Many players come to us with questions about the legality of sports betting in Kenya. We understand that many Kenyans are confused about the proper laws in this area. Therefore, we decided to write this article to clear up the confusion and find the answer to the question “Is online betting legal in Kenya?”
Is Online Betting Legal In Kenya?
Sports betting and gambling are legal in Kenya and have been in effect since 1966 when the government introduced the Betting and Games Betting Act. This means that betting online and playing online casino games is also legal in Kenya.
The 1966 law established the first clear rules and regulations regarding gambling in Kenya. It requires gambling operators to carry licenses and pay the necessary taxes to offer betting games to customers.
This means that all online betting sites and casinos operating in Kenya must apply for a license and pay an annual fee and tax to the government. The Kenyan government collects about $3 million per year in gambling revenue. This may sound like a lot of money, but it is very little compared to European countries like the UK.
Betting sites operating in Kenya are required to indicate their gambling license at the bottom of the web page. So you can always go and check if any betting sites are legally licensed. It looks like this:
So does this mean Kenyan players have to join a betting site licensed by the Kenyan government or are we allowed to join an international betting site too? We will answer this question in the following chapter.
If you wish to join a betting site licensed by the Kenyan government, we strongly encourage you to do so. This will give you protection from the Kenyan government, in the very unlikely case that you will have problems with the bookmaker, such as failure to pay the money you are entitled to, etc.
In addition, if you use a bookmaker licensed in Kenya, you are supporting the Kenyan government, as these bookmakers are obliged to pay taxes on their income to the government.
If you are looking for a great bookmaker to join, who has a Kenyan betting license, then we recommend that you check out Betway:
Betway
International betting site licensed in Kenya
Betway is an international betting site licensed in Kenya. They have set up a unique betting platform for Kenyan players. This betting platform is not like the official Betway website. It contains only sports betting options, no casino games, and no poker and is only open to Kenyans.
Depositing Betway Kenya is simple. They only offer two different deposit and withdrawal options: Mpesa or Airtel. You can deposit as little as 10 shillings, and it only takes a few minutes to make the deposit, and the money appears in your Betway account.
If you want to join Betway, you will even get a nice welcome bonus in the form of free bets when you make your first deposit. Betway will give you a free bet worth 50% of your first deposit. So if you deposit Ksh. 5,000, you get Ksh. 2,500 free bets. Not bad, right?
If you wish to join this licensed bookie, press the “Join Now” button below. If you wish to know more about how Betway works, you can check out the detailed Betway review in the Kenyan region.
Betting Sites Without Kenya License
Kenyan players are under no obligation to join betting sites with a Kenyan license. You are free to join any betting site you choose. There are many international betting sites to choose from, and most of them do not have a Kenyan gambling license.
If you choose to join an international betting site, you are not protected by Kenyan law if you experience problems with this betting site and need legal assistance. The Kenyan government can do nothing to help you, as they do not regulate these betting sites.
Also, gambling sites that are not licensed in Kenya do not pay taxes to the Kenyan government. They pay taxes in other jurisdictions. The most common gambling jurisdiction is Malta, located in Europe, due to its low taxes on gambling revenue.
If you want to join an international betting site without a Kenyan betting license, we suggest you check out 1xBet.
1xBet
International betting site with a large selection of games
1xBet is an international gambling site without a Kenyan gambling license. They accepted Kenyan players and even took Kenyan shillings. Depositing at 1xBet can be done with Airtel Money, so it is very convenient for Kenyan players to use this betting site.
1xBet is known to have one of the largest and most diverse gaming portfolios in the world. They offer a large selection of sports betting, from football to cockfighting. They also have lots of casino games, lotteries, wheel of fortune, and more.
Every Kenyan player who wants to join 1xBet can receive a fantastic welcome bonus. 1xBet will multiply your first deposit up to a maximum of Ksh. 10,000. So if you decide to deposit Ksh. 10,000, you will have a total of Ksh. 30,000 to play. That’s a great welcome bonus.
Sign up today to get these amazing bonus and check out 1xBet Kenya review if you want to know more about the platform.
