Kenya

As basically every form of gambling is legal in Kenya, provided that players enjoy such activities on licensed platforms, it's clear that Kenya's stand on sports betting is not complicated. If you are just over 18 of age, all types and categories of sports gambling are fully legal in the country. Therefore, online and in-person sports betting are legal in Kenya, and there are no restrictions or limitations on what types of markets you can wager on.

Horse race betting is also available for Kenyans, and the country's number one race track, Ngong Racecourse, holds around 25 races yearly, including the most notable annual meeting, the Kenyan Derby.

In terms of taxing gambling payouts, every licensed betting app and site in Kenya must automatically withhold winnings at a 20% rate. So, if you win Ksh 50,000 from a bet, you'll get Ksh 40,000, while the remaining Ksh 10,000 is held back by the betting company and sent to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

Sports betting & gambling news and updates from Kenya

• October 14, 2024: Galaxsys partners with African sports betting platform Betika to integrate its portfolio of skill-based and fast-paced games, expanding its reach across Betika's large player base in multiple African markets, including Kenya.

• October 2, 2024: A virtual sports and betting solutions provider, GoldenRace, partners with Kenyan gaming platform Pepeta, providing players access to its full suite of virtual sports games, including Virtual Football, Basketball 3×3, Historical Horse Racing, and Greyhound Racing.

• August 8, 2024: The Betting Control and Licensing Board raises concerns regarding the rise of illegal gambling activities in Kenya. In addition, the regulator claims it currently has insufficient funding to combat the black market properly.

• August 1, 2024: Sportsbook and online casino operator Betika launches one of the biggest ever African eSports tournaments with prize money totaling KSh 1,500,000.

• July 29, 2024: After recently launching in Kenya, online betting and iGaming brand 4BetNow partners with iGaming fintech platform Xprizo.

• June 26, 2024: After heavy protests, Kenya President William Ruto officially retracts the highly controversial Finance Bill 2024, which included, among other things, an excise tax hike on all gambling wagers from 12,5% to 20%.

• June 14, 2024: The Kenyan government proposes raising the excise duty on iGaming and sports betting wagers from the current 12.5% all the way up to 20%. This tax would be added to the tax on winnings, which is already at a rate of 20%. If the proposal would come into force, Kenya would tax both made stakes and the winnings.

All forms of gambling, including online casino games, online poker, and retail casinos, are legal in Kenya, given that such websites and establishments operate with proper Kenyan licenses. Thanks to comprehensive internet coverage, most players in the country prefer wagering online. Nevertheless, some enjoy the thrill and excitement of physical casinos and retail shops.

There are around 30 land-based licensed casinos in the country, and 21 of those are located in the capital, Nairobi. Locals can find around 200 gaming tables within these retail establishments, including blackjack, poker, roulette, and over 1,300 slot machines.

Through online betting websites, Kenyans can also enjoy multiple lottery games, including internationally recognized ones like Powerball, Mega Millions, and Eurojackpot.