Allowed Betting Sites in Kenya

Here’s a look at the top bookmakers in Kenya. They have different sports and betting services. Learn more about that by reading the details page and checking our reviews.

A number of services are available to meet the betting needs of Kenyans, even though the laws regulating online gambling are outdated. Players can enjoy relative freedom in the betting market, which is why they prefer to bet on their favorite sports or games.

The government has publicly stated that they are attempting to control problem gambling among younger players. As for now, it appears that this is creating restrictions for many players.


The best online betting sites in Kenya

Kenya has one of the highest rates of gambling in Sub-Saharan Africa. Bookies offer betting services to punters from all over Kenya and from around the world, and mobile betting makes it easier than ever to bet on any sport you like.

100% up to €122
Rating: 9.2
Positives
  • Good sports bonus
  • Many betting options on sports
  • High odds
  • eSports and Virtual Sports betting
  • Cash Out is available
  • Mobile apps for Android & iOS
  • Professional Customer Support
  • Different payment options
Negatives
  • Often requires mirror link

22Bet, a leading online sportsbook with a reputation for excellence and a growing customer base in Kenya, recently obtained a license to operate in the country. The brand's extensive offerings include a variety of betting options for players of all skill levels, as well as mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. If you are living in Kenya, you should definitely give 22Bet a try.

Claim Bonus
Welcome OfferBet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets
Positives
  • The biggest betting brand in the world
  • Great odds
  • Pro customer support
  • Mobile apps
  • Cash Out
  • Different payment methods
Negatives
  • Limiting players

Bet365 has been operating for over 40 years, initially as a brick and mortar bookmaker but now as an online betting company. The company offers a wide range of casino games and sports betting, so there is something to interest everyone. Their staff strive to make their website easy to navigate, offering punters the latest in betting technology, great odds and client-focused service.

Claim Bonus
£10 Free Bet
Rating: 8.9
Positives
  • Welcome offers
  • Great odds
  • Great markets
  • Superb support
Negatives
  • Some leagues are not included
  • Bonus restriction (UK/IRL only)

Betway is one of the world's largest online sportsbooks, founded in 2006. It offers top-notch customer service and attractive promotions to customers who reside in Kenya. The platform has a user-friendly design and placing a bet is easy. This bookie has many advantages, but its trademark is probably the high odds. Kenyan bettors choose Betway because of its supreme live betting section and the live-streaming feature.

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100% up to €130 Bonus
Rating: 9.7
Positives
  • Starting Bonus
  • They have a mirror link
  • Various payments
  • High odds
  • Many casino games
Negatives
  • Some payments are delayed

1xBet is a new betting site on the Kenyan market, and it's quickly growing in popularity. 1xBet offers bets on over 10,000 events a day and offers both sports and casino services. They have some of the greatest odds on the market, so punters can access their services using either the desktop site or mobile version.

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Kenyan Bookmakers Promo Codes & Bonuses

Bookmakers in Kenya offer a variety of different bonuses and promotions to try to boost their usership. Bettors should spend time checking out different sites in order to see which ones offer the most incentives.

6 bonuses

22bet casino welcome bonus €300 - EN

Betway casino welcome £50



Many betting sites offer welcome bonuses, but not all of them do. The ones that do usually have high turnover requirements before you can claim the bonus and withdraw any winnings.

Some sites will offer their existing customers multiple bonuses in a short period of time. These promotions vary from site to site, and punters should look for a site that offers promotions tailored to their betting interests.


Detailed Comparison of Indian Bookmakers

1xBet
22Bet
Betano
N1bet
CasiniaBet
LibraBet
SportPesa
Sportsbet.io
Rating
4.85
Welcome Bonus
€130
Bonus Percentage
100%
Minimum Deposit
€1
Turnover
x5
Apps
Features
  • Cashout
  • Live Streaming
  • Live Betting
  • Casino
  • E-Sports
  • Live Casino
  • Lottery
  • Poker
  • Virtual Sports
  • Bet Builder
Deposit Methods
LINK TO 1XBET
18+ T&C apply | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating
4.60
Welcome Bonus
€122
Bonus Percentage
100%
Minimum Deposit
€1
Turnover
5x
Apps
Features
  • Cashout
  • Casino
  • E-Sports
  • Live Betting
  • Live Casino
  • Lottery
Deposit Methods
Visit 22Bet
18+ T&C apply | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating
4.30
Welcome Bonus
£10
Bonus Percentage
-
Minimum Deposit
£10
Turnover
-
Apps
Features
  • Live Betting
  • Cashout
  • Casino
  • E-Sports
  • Live Casino
Deposit Methods
Visit SportPesa
Available to New Players only | Min Stake £10 | Applies to Single & Combo Bets only | Your Bets, Pulse Bets & System Bets are excluded | Bonus Token applies to first settled bet Bonus Token applies to losing bets only | Max Bonus Token £10 | Bonus Token valid for 5 days | No E-Wallets | 18+ T&C apply | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating
4.80
Welcome Bonus
€100
Bonus Percentage
-
Minimum Deposit
€10
Turnover
x5
Apps
Features
  • Live Streaming
  • Live Betting
  • Cashout
  • Casino
  • Live Casino
Deposit Methods
Visit Betfair
18+ T&C apply | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating
4.15
Welcome Bonus
€130
Bonus Percentage
130%
Minimum Deposit
€1
Turnover
x5
Apps
Features
  • Cashout
  • Casino
  • E-Sports
  • Live Betting
  • Live Casino
  • Live Streaming
  • Lottery
  • Virtual Sports
Deposit Methods
Visit MELbet
18+ T&C apply | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating
4.45
Welcome Bonus
£10
Bonus Percentage
100%
Minimum Deposit
£10
Turnover
x1
Apps
Features
  • Live Streaming
  • Live Betting
  • Cashout
  • Casino
  • E-Sports
  • Live Casino
  • Poker
  • Virtual Sports
  • Bet Builder
  • Request a Bet
Deposit Methods

In Kenya, the only online betting sites that were licensed to operate in the country were BetKenya and SportPesa; this created a monopoly. However, since both of these sites have since been shut down, there are now 30 different licensed sites that offer their services, and there are many more unlicensed sites. This means that the online betting market is no longer monopolized by either BetKenya or SportPesa.


Betting Features and Options in the Kenyan Bookmakers

Online betting offers punters many exciting and innovative features. Some of these include:

Cash Out

Cash Out

Cash-out allows you to be able to withdraw your bet early, and take your winnings based on the odds at the time of withdrawal. Many sites will also allow partial cash out, or an automatic cash out, when odds hit a specified point chosen by the punter.

Bet Builder

Bet Builder

Bet Builder allows you to combine different types of bets on the same horse race, increasing the odds for all the bets where your selected horse is the winner. Most sites allow you to choose how many wagers to incorporate, and what kinds of bets.

Live Betting

Live Betting

Live betting is a service that enables bettors to place bets on events even after they have started. This increases the odds of winning a bet, as there is a much higher chance of making a profit.

Live Streaming

Live Streaming

Live streaming allows you to watch the event that you have bet on. Most sites will require punters to make a bet before they can access this service, but the minimum requirements are generally low.


Available Payment Methods

To deposit and withdraw money from Kenyan betting sites, punters use a variety of different methods. Some sites allow punters to make deposits via bank cards. Others, like Skrill and Neteller, allow punters to load their e-wallets with money and then make a deposit into their betting accounts. These transactions are fast and free, but they can be frustrating if you don’t know that there are different options for making deposits and withdrawals.

  • Visa LogoVisa
  • Trustly LogoTrustly
  • MasterCard LogoMasterCard
  • ApplePay LogoApplePay

In Kenya, many users are turning to mobile-based payment services such as M-Pesa in order to deposit and withdraw money from their bank accounts. Software like M-Pesa is a convenient way to make payments, because it sends a code to your phone and can be accessed through an app on your phone. While not all sites currently accept these forms of payment, many users find it convenient, so it may be worth looking for a site that does accept mobile payment services.

Kenya’s currency is the Kenyan shilling (KES). It’s an accepted form of currency for local betting sites, but users need to be aware of high conversion fees when using international sites. Many sites will offer this service, but punters should be aware of high fees.


Leading sports for betting in Kenya

Kenya is known for its prowess in athletics, which has led to a huge interest in sports betting. Here are some of the most popular markets:

  • Football is popular in Kenya, and because of the diverse range of bookmakers there are opportunities for Kenyans to bet on local teams as well as international ones. Due to this international interest in football, it has become huge in Kenya too.
  • Athletics is a popular sport in Kenya. The country produces some of the best runners in the world, and punters will bet on their fellow Kenyans when it comes to international championships. Kenya has won several medals at the Olympics and other international competitions, but there are also many local and international events that punters can bet on.
  • Basketball is one of the most popular sports to bet on in Kenya. Kenyans are avid followers of their local NBA teams and the league as a whole, which means there are plenty of betting opportunities for basketball fans.
  • Kenyans are renowned for playing volleyball, especially on their women’s teams. The national women’s volleyball team has been one of the best on the African continent for decades and continues to achieve new highs.
  • Kenya is well represented in rugby, with teams from the country playing at both a national and international level. Kenya’s national team has won gold medals in several international tournaments, including the All-Africa Games and the Africa Cup. There are a number of betting sites that offer betting on rugby within Kenya.

Online Casinos

Punters in Kenya can play on a number of online casinos, including sports betting and casino games. Online casinos offer a range of different games, including live casinos, slots, poker and other card games.

Live casino features are designed to give players the feel of playing in a brick-and-mortar establishment, while they bet against other actual people. This appeals to many bettors, who like this more than betting against the computer or site.


Mobile Betting in Kenya

Increasing numbers of punters are using mobile devices to place their bets, because they like that they can do so wherever and whenever they choose. Larger betting sites offer apps for Apple and Android devices, making them easily accessible for everyone.

Some local sites also offer mobile apps, but most are accessible by way of the mobile version of the desktop site. This does not require any downloading and is a different, altered version of the larger site that can be easier to navigate on a device.

Some bookmakers offer discounts or bonuses to their customers who download their mobile app or make use of it to place bets.


Gambling Legislation and Laws

Kenya has a long history of gambling, with laws that were introduced in 1966. Today, all forms of gambling are legal within Kenya – both online and offline. The Betting Lotteries and Gaming Act legalized sports betting, casinos and lotteries. The responsibility for licensing vendors falls to the Betting Control and Licensing Board.

These laws were made in the past, before online gambling became an industry. Although it is not considered illegal, there is a push to overhaul the current legislation. If passed, this would help regulate the online market and make it safer for players.


Facts about betting in Kenya

  • To stop problem gambling, the government has imposed a 20% tax on all winnings.
  • Kenya has the highest percentage of its population under the age of thirty who gamble.
  • The betting industry in Kenya is a huge part of the economy. It’s even larger than the gambling industry in South Africa.
  • Nairobi, the country’s largest gambling hub, is also the capital.
  • Sports betting is widely practiced throughout the United States.
  • Currently, only a few cities in the country offer physical bookmaking services. If you want to bet online, you’ll need to find a site that offers that service.

Although gambling is legal in South Africa, it is still relatively uncommon. In fact, most people do not bet at all. However, many young men are drawn to gambling because mobile phones and the internet have allowed them to gamble from the comfort of their homes. This has led betting to increase in popularity among younger males more than any other demographic. Betting increased alongside the use of mobile phones and the internet as modes of betting because although gambling is legal in South Africa, there are few physical sites where you can bet legally; however, online betting is accessible to everyone who owns a device with internet access.


FAQs

Is gambling legal in Kenya?

Currently, online gambling is legal in Kenya. As with land-based casinos and other betting outlets, punters can choose from a range of different options – sports betting, casinos, lotteries and bingo – and can access licensed sites.

Are there any taxes for Kenyan players on their winnings?

Gambling winnings are currently taxed by the Kenyan government at 20%. However, this tax was put on hold when Sportpesa took the government to court. As it stands, punters are still taxed 10% of any bet placed, regardless of the outcomes.

How can you find the best betting sites in Kenya?

Bookmakers often add a margin to bets in order to make their profits grow. You can find out what the margins are for yourself by adding up all the different probabilities of the outcomes, and if they equal over 100%, this indicates that the bookmaker has a margin. The greater the total sum, the greater the margin.

Are there Kenyan betting sites that offer free bets?

There are a variety of local and international betting sites that offer free bets to punters. These free bets are often welcome bonuses, but some sites also offer them as ongoing promotions for existing customers. If Kenyans want free bets, they should check the promotion pages of betting sites and see what is available; terms and conditions may vary from one site to another.

Are there any betting restrictions for players in Kenya?

Kenyan punters have access to a full range of betting types and markets. However, they face only one restriction: most international sites will not offer their services in Swahili, one of the official languages of the country. Players may not want to play in English either because many international sites do not accept bets made in KES. They need to convert their money before placing bets so that they can avoid paying large conversion fees.

Do international betting sites provide better service than local ones?

Ultimately, it comes down to preference. Local betting sites are likely to have more local options and be more convenient for users, but may lack the size or reputation of international sites. Conversely, international betting sites are generally larger and more expansive, but may have fewer local options available. They are also more likely to accept Kenyan Shilling (KES), but may not be as secure or reputable as older international options. There is no right or wrong answer, provided that punters are using sites that are licensed and secure.”

Are betting exchanges legal in Kenya?

Yes, there are a number of licensed bet exchanges in Kenya. Bet exchanges allow Kenyans to place bets against each other, not the site itself.

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