For the third consecutive year, Marrakech hosts the African Grand Prix, a flagship event giving pride of place to African lotteries and horse racing across the continent. Organized by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Horse of Morocco (SOREC) and the Association of African Lotteries (ALA), this edition started with an opening ceremony at the level of expectations, Thursday October 31 at the National Stud of Marrakech.
The inauguration was chaired by the general director of SOREC, Omar Skalli, as well as the president of ALA, Dramane Coulibaly, also director of the National Lottery of Côte d’Ivoire (LONACI). The event brought together 12 African delegations, including representatives of national lotteries, relevant ministries and private sector players.
Professionals from Mali, Ivory Coast, Benin, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Niger, Madagascar, Republic of Congo, Guinea, Togo, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritius will have the opportunity to discuss the regulation of games, “particularly in its security, legal and fiscal aspects”, according to SOREC.
In a statement to Yabiladi during the inauguration ceremony, SOREC Director General, Omar Skalli, indicated that “this third edition is particularly special. This year we are inviting sponsors from SOREC and the Association of African Lotteries to come and organize an exhibition at the Haras de Marrakech. This is an opportunity for these technical sponsors to share their innovations and IT technologies with African lottery associations and professionals, and on Saturday we will organize races.
On the other hand, the president of the ALA, Dramane Coulibaly, declared to Yabiladi that “the big novelty this year is illustrated through a seminar and an exhibition”. “After the opening ceremony, you saw the doors open to the public. Tomorrow we will continue with a seminar on gaming regulation. Things are starting well,” he noted.
Also present at the event, Claude Solange Tshibaka, Administrator, Director General of the National Lottery Company of the Democratic Republic of Congo (SONAL), believes that “it is crucial for us, Africans, to promote South-South cooperation . Today, Africans must start by supporting each other before looking for help elsewhere.
The program for this edition will also allow African delegations to exchange their expertise, while addressing current issues in horse racing and lotteries. The event also provides an exhibition space, where sector experts can present their activities and innovative technical solutions.
It is worth noting that the African Grand Prix (GPA) is an annual event aimed at promoting horse racing in Africa and strengthening ties between African lotteries. After a decade in Vincennes, France, the GPA moved to Marrakech in 2022, which allowed greater visibility for this meeting with international influence.
