Maestro

How to play Maestro

Both LiveScore and Tombola, who were a part of the original 10 operators to receive a licence, exited the market in 2024. 

Compared to the 2021 licensing round, the KSA adopted a more granular and stringent approach to its licence renewal process. This was expected following new policy rules set out by the regulator in September 2025.

One such rule was for licensees that had faced compliance enforcement during the five years operating in the Netherlands.

About Maestro

“This important financing allows us to progress the pre-construction planning process so that we are ready to complete the remainder of the capital raise and remain on schedule,” Kim said in a statement. “Furthermore, the additional liquidity provides us greater flexibility for other capital opportunities.”

The financing, added Bob Louzan, managing partner at WhiteHawk Capital Partners, reflects its ability to structure flexible capital solutions for complex transactions to “support the project’s pre-construction work as Bally’s advances its broader financing plan”.

In its application materials in New York, Bally’s said it would begin construction “eight to nine months” after securing a licence, which would be this month. The project calls for a single-phase opening sometime in 2030 if timelines hold.

About Maestro

“We also, from the point of view of the Alliance, intend to do Africa-wide studies around prevalence of problem gambling in different markets, obviously working with regulators and associations,” he says.

Alongside this, the AiA wants to use the lessons from the inaugural week to broaden participation and establish the campaign as a permanent fixture.

“Our ambition is to expand participation each year and make the week an established feature of the African gambling calendar,” Kesitilwe continues.