Is online gambling legal in Kenya?
Status of online casinos, the regulator, the minimum age and where to get help, with our sources and the date we checked them.
Short answer
Online casino play is legal for players in Kenya with operators holding an online casino licence from the Gambling Regulatory Authority. The minimum age to gamble is 18.
Legal overview
Kenya's gambling market is governed by the Gambling Control Act, 2025 (Act No. 14 of 2025), which received assent on 7 August 2025 and came into force in August 2025. It repealed the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act and transferred the functions, assets and staff of the Betting Control and Licensing Board to the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya. County governments remain responsible for trade permits for physical premises.
The Act expressly covers online gambling. Section 67 provides for an online bookmakers licence, an online lottery licence and an online casino licence, and the definition of a casino includes an approved virtual or online platform. Operators also need approval of the systems they use for online gambling. A foreign-based operator can receive an online licence only if it is registered in Kenya and has a registered physical address there. Offering online gambling without a licence is an offence, and operators must check that players are of age before registering them or paying out prizes. Sports betting, lotteries, bingo, totalisators and prize competitions are licensed under the same Act.
Player protection includes a self-exclusion mechanism: under section 115 licensees must implement self-exclusion, the Authority keeps a register of notifications, and an operator that fails to act within seven days commits an offence. Advertising needs the Authority's approval and is heavily restricted. Detailed licensing rules followed in the Gambling Control (Licensing) Regulations, 2026, which were challenged in the High Court in mid-2026; after a temporary suspension, the court allowed the Authority to implement them, including the new fees, while the case continues.
| Status | Regulated market |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Gambling Regulatory Authority (Kenya) |
| Main law | Gambling Control Act, 2025 (Act No. 14 of 2025); Gambling Control (Licensing) Regulations, 2026 |
| Licensing model | Open licensing by the Gambling Regulatory Authority, with separate online bookmaker, online lottery and online casino licences plus approval of the gambling system; foreign operators must be registered in Kenya with a local physical address. |
| Online casinos | Online casino play is legal for players in Kenya with operators holding an online casino licence from the Gambling Regulatory Authority. |
| Advertising rules | All gambling ads need GRA approval, must warn of addiction risk and not target children, may not be broadcast on TV or radio between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. except during live sport, and may not be placed on billboards near schools (s.87). |
| Enforcement | Providing online gambling without a licence is an offence under the Act (s.79(3), s.98), with fines reported by Bowmans of up to KES 50 million; the Act text read contains no express website- or payment-blocking power. |
| Minimum age | 18 years |
| Currency | KES |
| Self-exclusion scheme | Self-exclusion register maintained by the Gambling Regulatory Authority (s.115, Gambling Control Act 2025) |
| Last checked | October 25, 2026 |
Questions about the law in Kenya
Is online casino gambling legal in Kenya?
Yes, with operators licensed by the Gambling Regulatory Authority. The Gambling Control Act, 2025 creates a specific online casino licence.
What happened to the BCLB?
The Gambling Control Act, 2025 repealed the old Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act and transferred the Betting Control and Licensing Board's functions to the Gambling Regulatory Authority.
Can I exclude myself from gambling in Kenya?
Yes. Section 115 of the Act requires licensees to implement self-exclusion, and the Authority keeps a register of self-exclusion notifications.
Sources
This overview is editorial information, not legal advice. Laws change; the regulator's own publications are binding.