Kenya
Ever since 2011, when online gambling was legalized in Kenya, local bettors have access to an array of betting apps, all providing an enormous variety of wagering options.
🇰🇪 Legal sports betting apps in Kenya:
Online sports betting in Kenya - A market with great potential
As early as 1966, the country legalized gambling specifically for games of chance and sports through the Betting Lotteries and Gaming Act. The Betting Control and Licensing Board was enacted the same year and regulates all local gambling operators. The Kenyan sports betting scene has steadily grown, and currently, the country holds the third-largest market in Africa after South Africa and Nigeria.
Some 45 years later, in 2011, Kenya legalized online gambling. Since then, the Betting Control and Licensing Board has licensed several online and retail sportsbooks, and today, local bettors can wager through mobile apps and websites or place bets physically at a retail shop. Furthermore, online betting platforms must show their gambling license at the bottom of their website, which helps players identify those operating legally.
Due to the early establishment of a regulatory body, the betting industry in Kenya has evolved in line with most countries, and gambling businesses have managed to grow at a productive pace. As of September 2023, the BCLB has issued permits for over 120 operators in Kenya, most of which provide sports betting verticals.
However, it's vital to note that Kenya plans to revise its gambling legislation significantly. The new Gambling Control Bill 2023 aims to replace the current Betting, Control, and Licensing Board with a new Gambling Regulatory Authority, which would handle licensing and regulation for all forms of gambling in Kenya. In addition, the bill introduces stricter measures regarding taxes, fines, and advertising regulations, aiming to enhance control and protect minors from gambling activities.
Such stricter measures would include implementing the KES20 minimum stake limit for all sports bets, a radio and TV gambling ad ban between 6 am and 10 pm, and a 15% tax on gross gambling revenue against operators.
Sports betting legislation in Kenya
| Is online sports betting legal in Kenya? | Yes |
| Is in-person sports betting legal? | Yes |
| Is daily fantasy sports legal? | Yes |
| Is horse racing betting legal? | Yes |
| Is political betting legal? | Yes |
| Is eSports betting legal? | Yes |
| How many legal sports betting apps are there in Kenya? | 50+ |
| Legal age for sports betting in Kenya? | 18+ |
| Kenya's tax rate for betting/gambling winnings | 20% (Operators withhold winnings at a rate of 20%) |
| Who regulates sports betting in Kenya? | The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) |
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
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.
June 13, 2024: The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) orders Opera Limited, a company behind the same-named multi-platform web browser, to unblock Kenyan betting site Odibets and allow local bettors to reaccess its sportsbook platform.
June 4, 2024: A hot newcomer from the Kenyan sports betting market, Maybets, introduces its sportsbook app on Google Play Store. In addition to sports betting, the application also includes vast online casino gaming options.
May 17, 2024: Maybets launches its updated sports betting platform, "version 2.0," to Kenyan bettors.
May 14, 2024: Betsson Group's brand Batsafe officially ceases all its gambling operations in Kenya, and exits the sports betting market effective today. This move is seen to relate to the country's efforts to increase gambling-related taxes, which has already led many other big operators, such as Hollywood Bets, to leave the Kenyan market.
February 1, 2024: Kenyan singer and songwriter Nadia Mukami becomes 22BET's first female brand ambassador in Kenya.
All legal gambling options in Kenya
| Are online casinos legal in Kenya? | Yes |
| Are retail casinos legal? | Yes |
| Are social casinos legal? | Yes |
| Is online poker legal? | Yes |
| Is the lottery legal? | Yes |
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.
Kenya - Some commonly asked questions (FAQ)
What is the current legal status of sports betting in Kenya?
All types of sports betting, most vitally mainly online and in-person wagering, are fully legal in Kenya. However, the country plans to update its betting regulations, but such moves deal mainly with gambling tax and not the legality itself.
How profitable has legalized sports betting been for Kenya?
Kenya Revenue Authority collected around 15.1Bn KES from the betting sector through Excise on Betting and Withholding Tax on Winnings payments. Most of these taxation revenues came from taxing gambling winnings, 8.601bn KES.
How much money do Kenyans spend on betting?
According to data released by the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenyans spent around 88.5bn KES ($684.7M) on sports betting between January and June 2023. This means an average Kenyan spends roughly 273 KES ($2.11) monthly on sports bets.
Who are the biggest sports stars in Kenya?
The greatest Kenyan athletes came from long-distance running, where the country hoards medals from world championships to the Olympics. In this field, names like Eliud Kipchoge and Wilson Kipketer are worth mentioning.
