Gambling Laws In Kenya
Gambling Judge is the number 1 betting blog and directory for exclusive football, horse racing and other sports in UK and world countries. Kenyan Gambling Laws in 2021. Kenya has had some form of legalised betting since 1966. The Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act of 1966 was a piece of legislation overseeing land-based casinos and retail sportsbooks alike. When online gambling sites appeared, they were governed under the same legislation.
Registered Betting Companies in Kenya
There is currently a selection of new betting sites in Kenya for local sports bettors. As of 2020, there are still around a dozen legal betting sites in Kenya.
In the list we complied above, we chose the very best of the current available sites in Kenya. All our recommendations are reputable betting sites and licensed by BCLB (Betting and Licensing Control Board) under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act.
Regulated online sports betting started in Kenya back in 2013. Around 30 different sportsbooks have sprung up since then, but some have bitten the dust due to hefty government tariffs and alleged unpaid taxes.
Gambling Laws In Kenya Government
Kenyan Gambling Laws in 2021
Kenya has had some form of legalised betting since 1966. The Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act of 1966 was a piece of legislation overseeing land-based casinos and retail sportsbooks alike.
When online gambling sites appeared, they were governed under the same legislation. The best betting sites in Kenya were licensed by BCLB under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act of 1966 until a new law was passed in 2019.
The Gambling Bill 2019 favours taxes on betting ads, lower minimum stakes, and huge levees on online gaming operators. This is due in part to a crackdown on problem gambling in the country.
The increased taxes led to some of Kenya’s biggest online gambling companies, including Betin and SportPesa, leaving the market altogether. At the same time, over 20 betting companies in Kenya had their licence renewals dismissed over unpaid duty.
All betting sites in Kenya were then dealt a blow in late 2019 when the National Assembly Sports Committee pushed for increased fees. The committee wants the new regulations to be implemented by June 2020. These include an increase on the licence renewal fees for betting companies not based in Kenya.
For now, legal betting sites in Kenya continue to accept wagers. But many Kenyan punters choose to play at overseas betting sites.
Betting from Kenya at International Sites
Cricket and football betting sites in Kenya might be feeling the pinch, but there is still a huge number of regulated overseas sportsbooks that accept Kenyan customers.
You can register at dozens of top betting sites in Kenya that are licensed in jurisdictions like Gibraltar and Malta. Signing up is a breeze and only takes a few minutes. There are a few important things to be aware of:
Account Verification: Many regulated betting sites now require ID verification. You will need to provide certain information to verify your identity, such as home address, a valid email, and a phone number. When you make your first deposit, you may also have to provide a copy of a recent utility bill and Kenyan passport.
Like Kenyan betting sites, you must be 18 or over to bet at most UK and European-licensed sportsbooks.
Making Deposits: Once your account has been confirmed and verified, you are free to make deposits. You can use internationally recognised banking methods like VISA and MasterCard, or send cash using an e-Wallet such as PayPal.
Usually, international betting sites in Kenya won’t accept KES transactions. Instead, you will have to convert your funds into an accepted currency like USD or GBP first. Watch out for bank conversion fees if you are changing USD or GBP back into KES.
Claiming a Bonus: Overseas betting sites offer new players a generous welcome bonus or free bets. You may also be able claim other special offers like enhanced odds on selected football games.
Best Betting Sites with Bonuses
If you join an active betting site in Kenya, you can earn a real money bonus just by opening an account. Make a first deposit and you can earn gifts like cash back or free bets.
Below are some of the most popular offers available at betting sites in Kenya.
Welcome bonus: A welcome bonus is open only to Kenyans making their first deposit and bet. To qualify, make your first deposit and receive bonus funds. You must then wager your funds on eligible bets within the set time frame.
Free bets: With a free bet offer, you receive free betting credit up to a set value. You must wager any winnings from your bets a set number of times in order to have them released.
Best Odds Guaranteed: Most overseas sportsbooks offer markets on the day’s horse races. You can enjoy Best Odds Guaranteed on a range of overseas races. This means if the odds on your bet change after you have placed it, the higher price is always honoured.
Enhanced odds: Enhanced odds are usually offered on selected football games and are reserved for new sign-ups. Open an account and claim the enhanced odds. For example, you might get 20/1 odds on Man Utd to beat West Ham.
Acca bonus: An acca bonus is usually offered at the best betting sites in Kenya as well as international sites. You win your stake back if one selection on your sports acca loses.
Available Payment Options in Kenya
Probably the easiest way to fund your betting account in Kenya is to register using your mobile phone. You can also use your phone bill to make deposits.
M-Pesa has become a popular banking option for sports betting in Kenya. It’s a mobile payment service that lets you send and receive cash using your smartphone. In many cases, M-Pesa is the only way to make deposits at betting sites in Kenya.
Kenyan betting sites will normally have their own M-Pesa business number. You can use this in the cashier to send funds. You will also receive a PIN that acts as a receipt for your transaction.
Withdrawals at Kenyan betting sites usually carry a fee if you don’t cash out above a certain amount. Some sportsbooks charge around KES16.00-20.00 if your withdrawal amount is less than KES500. It’s always worth checking the details in the cashier before you proceed.
What to Look Out for When Choosing a Bookmaker
Gambling Laws In Kenya Shillings
With so much choice, it’s important to pick the right site for betting in Kenya. Here’s our criteria for selecting the best one.
Kenyan Gamblers Accepted: Kenyan gamblers used to have a huge selection of homegrown sportsbooks to choose from. There are still some licensed sportsbooks operating in Kenya which offer bets in KES and English-speaking customer support.
You can also register at sites that are licensed overseas. Kenyans are accepted at many betting sites with free bets so you can start placing risk-free wagers straight away.
Proper Licensing from a Reputable Jurisdiction: Betting companies in Kenya must be licensed by the BCLB (Betting and Licensing Control Board). It’s imperative to choose a site that is licensed and we only recommend sites that are fully licenced.
Good Range of Mobile Betting: Most Kenyans deposit and bet on sports via mobile apps. It’s important to access a good iOS and Android app or log in to secure sites direct through your device.
Wide Selection of Payment Options: Banking options at many top betting sites in Kenya are limited. In most cases you you’ll have to use your M-PESA bill to make a payment. But the best overseas sites accepting Kenyan players will allow you to use a credit card, prepaid card or e-Wallet.
Dozens of Sports to Bet On: Reputable betting firms in Kenya should offer markets on everything from football and basketball to tennis cricket and ice hockey. No matter what you want to wager on, the site should cover it.
Good Customer Support 24/7: Solid customer support is important if you run into problems. Many Kenyan sportsbooks offer 24-hour customer service via live chat or phone.
Low Fees on Withdrawals: It’s important to enjoy cheap betting in Kenya. That means finding sportsbooks that don’t charge a fortune to make a withdrawal. The best betting sites in Kenya carry low fees every time.
Great Range of Bonuses & Promotions: Kenyan betting sites will always offer a welcome bonus for new players. But regular customers should also be able to claim ongoing promotions like free bets, enhanced odds, or a VIP scheme.
The Best Sports to Bet on at Kenya Sportsbooks
If you want to bet in Kenya, it’s important to choose the right sports. The best betting sites will always offer hundreds of markets on a range of diverse sports. You should also have access to in-play betting where you can make wagers as the game evolves. Here are a few popular sports you can bet on in 2020.
Football: Football is easily the most popular sport for betting in Kenya. The best Kenyan betting sites will offer match odds on markets from England to Brazil, and you’ll even find non-league markets available.
A good football betting site in Kenya may offer over 150 markets on a single match. Choose from outright (Home/Draw/Away) to correct score and Half-Time/Full-Time result.
Football bonuses are also common. Popular promotions include money back if a match finishes 0-0 or enhanced odds on a 1st goalscorer pick.
In-play betting on football is also widely available. Bet live on matches as they happen and choose fast markets like Scorer of Next Goal and Time of Next Corner. You can also follow the action live via a graphic visualiser showing up-to-date stats.
Cricket: Most betting firms in Kenya offer markets on cricket. Place home/away bets or bet the Over/Under on total number of fours. A single cricket match might have over 75 markets.
Tennis: Tennis lends itself well to in-play betting, but you can also bet on outright markets like tournament winners. Live betting markets for tennis include the winner of the next set, next point or next ace.
Basketball: The top betting sites in Kenya always have a heavy focus on basketball. You can place bets on all NBA games, including Home/Away, Total Points Over/Under, and up to 100 markets on various outcomes. The best sportsbooks take bets on league matches across the world.
Rugby: At many Kenyan betting sites, and certainly sportsbooks licensed in the UK, you can bet on a range of Rugby Union and Rugby League games. Bet on 1X2 (Home/Draw/Away), Total Points Over/Under, or alternative markets like 1st Half Total Tries.
Kenya Betting FAQs
Several of the best betting sites in Kenya are still in operation in defiance of the government’s new tax plans. The sites we included in our recommendations operate legally.
All of our recommended sites still work for Kenyan punters. There are also around a dozen betting companies in Kenya that are still operating in 2020.
Yes. Winnings from online gambling, lotteries and gaming are taxed at 20% in Kenya. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) oversees gaming revenue in the country.