Kenya's Sports Betting Market
Kenya has one of Africa's most active sports betting markets, with high mobile penetration and M-Pesa's near-universal adoption making online betting accessible to a large population. Football is the dominant sport — the EPL is the most bet-on competition.
The market was significantly disrupted in 2019 when the government suspended 27 operator licences over tax disputes. Most were relicensed by late 2019 to 2020, but the episode created lasting awareness of regulatory risk in the Kenyan market. Sportpesa — once Kenya's largest operator — exited and returned under new ownership.
Key regulatory fact: Kenya imposes a 20% withholding tax on all gambling winnings above KSh 100. Operators deduct this at source. This is one of the highest gambling withholding tax rates globally and materially affects effective returns.
Key BCLB-Licensed Operators
- Sportpesa Kenya — returned under new ownership; football specialist; M-Pesa integrated
- Betika — popular mobile-first platform; strong accumulator tools
- Odibets — growing Kenyan-founded brand; competitive football odds
- Betway Kenya — international brand; BCLB licensed; wider market coverage
- 1xBet Kenya — international operator with BCLB licence; comprehensive markets
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is sports betting legal in Kenya?
- Yes. Sports betting is legal in Kenya for adults aged 18 and over. All operators must hold a current BCLB licence under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act (Cap 131). A 20% withholding tax on winnings above KSh 100 applies and is deducted by operators at source.
- How does the 20% withholding tax work in Kenya?
- Kenya deducts a 20% tax on gambling winnings above KSh 100 per transaction. If you win KSh 10,000, KSh 2,000 is deducted before the winnings are credited to your account. This applies to both sports betting and casino winnings. Operators deduct automatically — you do not pay separately.