Kenya has one of the largest betting markets in Africa, driven by mobile money and smartphones. In 2025 the country replaced its gambling law from the 1960s with a new framework and a new regulator. This guide explains the current legal situation, who issues licences, how to check that an operator is licensed, how gambling is taxed, what the advertising rules say and where to get help.
Is online gambling legal in Kenya?
Yes, but only with a Kenyan licence. The Gambling Control Act 2025 was passed by Parliament in August 2025 and came into force on 26 August 2025. It replaced the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act of 1966, which had no specific rules for online gambling.
The new Act covers sports betting, casinos, lotteries, gaming machines and online gambling under one licensing system. Operators must hold a licence from the Gambling Regulatory Authority before they can offer any of these products to people in Kenya. Running gambling without a licence is an offence, and legal commentary on the Act reports fines of up to 50 million shillings.
The Act also introduces stronger player protection, including age checks, rules on advertising and a framework for self-exclusion. Detailed regulations are being issued in stages, so some practical rules may still change.
Who regulates gambling in Kenya?
The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) is the new regulator created by the 2025 Act. It takes over the role of the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), which licensed and supervised gambling for nearly 60 years.
The GRA issues and renews licences, monitors operators, approves gambling advertising and handles enforcement. County governments still have a role in licensing some land-based gambling premises, while online gambling is regulated nationally.
Can online casinos advertise in Kenya?
Only under strict conditions. Section 87 of the Gambling Control Act 2025 requires prior approval from the GRA for gambling advertising through any channel, and the requirement applies to advertising agencies and media houses as well as licensed operators. Advertisements may not glamorise gambling, use celebrities or lifestyle promotion to entice people, or target areas near schools.
Promoting an operator that has no Kenyan licence is not allowed. The regulator has also used temporary bans in the past, including a 30 day halt on gambling adverts across all media in 2025, to review compliance.
How can you check if an online casino is licensed in Kenya?
Licensed operators must show their licence details, and the regulator publishes the list of licensed companies. A site that does not show a Kenyan licence number, or whose licence you cannot find on the official list, is not authorised to serve Kenyan players.
- Look for the licence number at the bottom of the website or in the app.
- Compare the company name and number with the list on the official GRA or BCLB website.
- Check that the M-Pesa paybill or till number used for deposits belongs to the same licensed company.
- Be careful with sites promoted only through social media groups or messaging apps.
How are gambling winnings taxed in Kenya?
Gambling tax in Kenya has changed several times in recent years, and the operator deducts it automatically. The Finance Act 2025 set a 5 percent excise duty on amounts deposited into betting wallets and a 5 percent withholding tax on withdrawals, replacing the earlier 20 percent tax on winnings.
Reports on the Finance Act 2026, signed in June 2026, say it reintroduced a 20 percent withholding tax on winnings. Because these rules keep moving, check the current rates with the Kenya Revenue Authority. Whatever the rate, it is withheld by the licensed operator, so you do not normally need to declare winnings yourself.
What are the risks of unlicensed gambling sites?
An operator without a Kenyan licence is not supervised by the GRA, and you have no local authority to turn to if winnings are not paid or your account is closed. These sites also do not follow Kenyan age checks, advertising rules or self-exclusion arrangements.
Mobile money payments to unknown operators can be hard to reverse, and fake betting sites are used to collect personal data and M-Pesa details. Sticking to licensed operators keeps your money and your data within a regulated system.
- No regulator to handle complaints or unpaid winnings
- No Kenyan age verification or responsible gambling controls
- Higher risk of fraud and misuse of personal and payment data
- Payments may be difficult or impossible to recover
What responsible gambling tools are available?
Licensed operators must offer tools such as deposit limits and the option to close or suspend your account. The 2025 Act also provides for self-exclusion, letting you ask to be barred from gambling with licensed operators.
Gambling is only allowed for adults aged 18 and over. Operators must verify your identity, usually with your national ID number and registered mobile number, before you can bet or withdraw.
Where can you get help with problem gambling in Kenya?
The Kenya Red Cross runs a free, round the clock helpline on 1199 that offers psychosocial support, including for people struggling with gambling. The government has also announced a Ministry of Health helpline, 719, for people affected by gambling addiction.
Public hospitals, including Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital in Nairobi, offer mental health and addiction services, and counselling is available through several community organisations. If you are chasing losses, borrowing to bet or hiding gambling from family, reach out early.
Myths vs facts
- Myth: Any betting site that accepts M-Pesa is licensed in Kenya.
- Fact: Accepting M-Pesa does not mean a site is licensed. Only operators licensed by the GRA are authorised, and you can check them on the official list.
- Myth: Kenya's gambling law has no rules for online casinos.
- Fact: The Gambling Control Act 2025 brings online gambling, including casinos, under the same licensing system as other gambling.
- Myth: You have to declare and pay tax on winnings yourself.
- Fact: Licensed operators deduct gambling taxes automatically before money reaches your wallet.
- Myth: Gambling adverts can say anything as long as the operator is licensed.
- Fact: All gambling advertising needs prior approval from the GRA and must not glamorise gambling or target young people.
Before you claim
- Licence number is shown on the site or app
- Operator appears on the official GRA or BCLB list
- M-Pesa paybill belongs to the licensed company
- You understand the tax deducted on deposits and withdrawals
- Deposit limits and self-exclusion are available
- You know the support lines 1199 and 719