Best Kenyan betting sites

Kenyan Sports Betting

Gambling activities have been legal in Kenya, also known as Republic of Kenya since the 1960’s. Before this, gambling in the East African nation existed, but it was very much an underground operation with unlicensed venues and unregulated markets.

However, since 1966, gambling has established a solid reputation and showcases a good success story for offline gambling due to the formation of the ‘Betting Control and Licensing Board‘ (BCLB) – which is a regulatory body that was established to regulate Kenyan gambling activities and ensure fair operation by gambling providers.

In addition, the Betting Control and Licensing Board oversees all activities relating to prize competitions and lotteries in Kenya as well as cutting dead illegal gambling establishments nationwide.

Political Concerns for Betting in Kenya

With a population of over fifty million and a very strong interest in football – particularly the English Premier League and Arsenal FC – it is easy to see why gambling and betting is popular in Kenya.

In fact, Kenya generates approximately two billion dollars per year from the casino and betting industry – making it the biggest economy in central and eastern Africa. However, with such a strong interest comes a string of concerns – especially with the youth of today in Kenya. Looking for the best betting site in Kenya? Here it is.

Kenyan betting sites 2022

Sports betting safety in Kenya

Government ministers and the Kenyan parliament has recently passed legislation, amid gambling addiction concerns in young people. This new legislation has introduced an outright ban on social media advertising and any adverts appearing outdoors.

In addition, a new law introduced in September 2019 to double the rate of excise duty on bets has resulted in SportPesa – a Kenyan founded business known for its sponsorship of Everton FC – pulling its operations out of Kenya with immediate effect.

Excise duty has been raised to twenty percent and is completely separate from the individual winners tax of 20% that bettors must pay on any winnings.

Online Gambling In Kenya

Since the rise of high speed internet and advanced technology throughout Africa, Kenyans have benefited from accessible online gambling channels available on mobile, tablet and computer.

Residents of Kenya are able to enjoy a wide range of real money casino games and sports betting markets – placing bets and chips in Kenyan shillings. All online gambling activities are monitored by the Betting Control and Licensing Board, which approve and verify all online casino and betting sites before they are permitted to operate.

Kenyan most favorite sports and games to bet on

The most popular casino games played in Kenya include roulette, blackjack and Texas hold’em Poker. For bettors who enjoy a flutter, the most popular sports to bet on in Kenya are without a doubt football. However, athletics, rugby union, basketball and motor sports are all very popular alternatives.

Online casinos and betting sites are all localised, meaning that the local currency is primarily used to place bets on sports and stake chips on casino games.

Payment methods for Kenyan bettors

In order to play for real money, a bettor must add funds to their betting account. Deposits can be made using a variety of payment methods including debit and credit cards; Visa and MasterCard. There are also a number of e-wallets and pre-paid cards available such as Neteller and paysafecard.

In addition, the most popular payment method for both deposits and withdrawals over the last ten years is M-PESA. M-PESA is a money-transfer system that is mobile based and allows the transfer of money between punters and gambling providers. The three largest betting firms in Kenya are: SportPesa, Odibets and Betika.

Kenyan gambling resources

• Kenya Betting control and licensing board. The home of institutional gambling supervisor.