Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the GRA decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a gambling license in Kenya.
Kenya rewrote its gambling law in 2025. The Gambling Control Act took effect on 20 August 2025, repealed the 1966 Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act and moved licensing to a new Gambling Regulatory Authority. An online bookmaker, casino or lottery licence now needs a Kenyan company with at least 30% of its shares held by Kenyan citizens. Player data stays on Kenyan servers. Licences run 36 months, and excise is 5% of every deposit.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Kenya in brief
A 2025 Act that asks for Kenyan shareholders.
The Gambling Control Act, 2025 (Act No. 14 of 2025) received assent on 7 August 2025 and came into force on 20 August 2025. It repealed the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act (Cap. 131) of 1966 and created the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya, which s.6(3) makes the successor of the Betting Control and Licensing Board. Section 28(2) lists the licences: bookmaking, public gambling with table games and slots, lotteries, online gambling for bookmakers, lotteries and casinos, and B2B lines for equipment, testing and software platforms. The detail came on 30 June 2026. Four sets of regulations were gazetted that day as L.N. 111 to 114, and under the Licensing Regulations the Authority checks a file for completeness within 14 days and considers it within 30 days of receipt (reg. 20). A licence lasts 36 months (s.31(3)).
The conditions are where foreign groups stop and think. Every licensee must be a company in which Kenyan citizens hold at least 30% of the shares, with an account at a Kenyan bank (s.29). An online operator also discloses where its servers are, holds a telecommunication licence and keeps a customer care centre in Kenya (s.68). Player data stays on Kenyan servers unless the Authority grants a written exemption (L.N. 112 reg. 42(2)). Tax went the other way. Since 1 July 2025 excise has been 5% of what a customer deposits, down from 15% of every stake. Licences issued before the regulations stayed in force for only 60 days after publication, and their holders had to apply again inside that window. For a book with no Kenyan players, L.N. 113/2026 offers an export-only licence instead, priced at KSh 100 million.
New law: the Gambling Control Act 2025 in force since 20 August 2025, the GRA in place of the BCLB, regulations L.N. 111-114 gazetted on 30 June 2026. Online bookmaker, casino and lottery licences run 36 months, with decisions due within 30 days.
The conditions: 30% of shares held by Kenyan citizens, player data on Kenyan servers, a live link to GRA monitoring. Excise is 5% of deposits. Export-only operators pay a KSh 100 million licence fee instead. Built from Nairobi.
The two routes
Kenyan players, or players everywhere else.
The Act gives online operators two doors. One faces Kenyan players and needs Kenyan shareholders. The other is closed to Kenyan residents, can be exempted from the 30% rule and costs a KSh 100 million licence fee.
The domestic online licence, or the export-only route.
01 - ONLINE GAMBLING LICENCE
The domestic online licence
Online bookmaker, online casino or online lottery under s.28(2) of the Act and reg. 11 of L.N. 111/2026, for players in Kenya. The holder is a Kenyan company at least 30% owned by Kenyan citizens, hosts player data in Kenya and feeds the Authority's central monitoring system in real time.
Online bookmaker, online casino or online lottery under s.28(2) of the Act and reg. 11 of L.N. 111/2026, for players in Kenya. The holder is a Kenyan company at least 30% owned by Kenyan citizens, hosts player data in Kenya and feeds the Authority's central monitoring system in real time.
- ✓Bookmaker, casino or lottery online
- ✓30% of shares held by Kenyan citizens
- ✓Player data on servers in Kenya
- ✓Real-time link to GRA monitoring
- ✓36-month term, renew 90 days ahead
- ✓5% excise on customer deposits
02 - FOREIGN-BASED OPERATOR
KSh 100M licence feeThe export-only licence
L.N. 113/2026 licenses operators registered in Kenya whose players are all abroad. The Authority may waive the 30% rule if the entire revenue base is generated outside Kenya. In return, Kenyan residents are geo-blocked and the GRA gets remote, real-time access to the central server.
Export-only: KSh 10M to apply, KSh 100M licence fee, KSh 200M bond, Kenyan residents geo-blocked. The 30% rule can be waived.
- ✓Application fee KSh 10,000,000
- ✓Licence fee KSh 100,000,000
- ✓Operating fee KSh 10,000,000 a year
- ✓Paid-up capital KSh 100,000,000
- ✓Bond or guarantee KSh 200,000,000
- ✓Kenyan residents geo-blocked
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. The domestic fee, capital and bond amounts sit in the schedules to L.N. 111/2026 and the Act's Third Schedule; we confirm them with the GRA before quoting.
Why Kenya
A finished rulebook, with strings attached.
Kenya now has a full statute and four sets of regulations, plus one ownership condition every domestic applicant has to solve first.
✓
The rulebook is complete
The Act has been in force since 20 August 2025, and its Licensing, Conduct, Foreign-Based Operators and Advertising Regulations were all gazetted on 30 June 2026.Act 2025, regulations June 2026.
✓
Excise on deposits, at 5%
Since 1 July 2025 excise falls on wallet deposits at 5%, down from 15% of every stake. The Finance Act 2026 put horse racing under the same rule.Down from 15% of stakes.
✓
A 30-day decision rule
Regulation 20 of L.N. 111 allows 14 days for the completeness check and 30 days from receipt to consider the file. A refusal can go to the Gambling Appeals Tribunal within 14 days.Written into reg. 20.
✓
Three years per licence
A licence runs 36 months (s.31(3)). Renewal is filed at least 90 days before expiry and decided within 30 days.Renew 90 days ahead.
✓
An export-only door
Under L.N. 113 a Kenyan-registered company serves only players abroad, and the Authority may waive the 30% rule if its entire revenue base is generated outside Kenya.30% rule waivable for foreign books.
✓
Warning: Kenyan shareholders
Section 29 requires Kenyan citizens to hold at least 30% of every licensee's shares. Choosing those shareholders, and the agreement with them, comes before any filing.30% Kenyan shareholders, by statute.
How it compares
How Kenya differs from other routes.
Kenya asks for local shareholders and local servers. In return it writes down a 30-day decision rule and a three-year term.
Kenya vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Kenya | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Local ownership | 30% Kenyan citizens | Usually a local company only |
| Tax base | 5% of deposits | Usually a share of revenue |
| Data hosting | In Kenya unless exempted | Set by each regulator |
| Licence term | 36 months | 1 year in Lagos · indefinite in Curaçao |
Local ownership
Kenya30% Kenyan citizens
Other jurisdictionsUsually a local company only
Tax base
Kenya5% of deposits
Other jurisdictionsUsually a share of revenue
Data hosting
KenyaIn Kenya unless exempted
Other jurisdictionsSet by each regulator
Licence term
Kenya36 months
Other jurisdictions1 year in Lagos · indefinite in Curaçao
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | GRA online · export-only | 5% excise on deposits | 30% Kenyan-held, local servers |
 Nigeria (Lagos) | LSLGA online sports betting | 2.5% of sales monthly | Nigerian company, ₦50M first year |
 South Africa | Provincial bookmaker licence | Provincial tax · 27% CIT | Fit and proper; no online casino |
 Malta | MGA B2C · B2B | 5% eff. via refunds · 5% Malta GGR | €100k/€40k capital, key functions |
KenyaLicense typeGRA online · export-only
Taxation5% excise on deposits
Requirements30% Kenyan-held, local servers
Nigeria (Lagos)License typeLSLGA online sports betting
Taxation2.5% of sales monthly
RequirementsNigerian company, ₦50M first year
South AfricaLicense typeProvincial bookmaker licence
TaxationProvincial tax · 27% CIT
RequirementsFit and proper; no online casino
MaltaLicense typeMGA B2C · B2B
Taxation5% eff. via refunds · 5% Malta GGR
Requirements€100k/€40k capital, key functions
Before you apply
Requirements for the Kenya licence.Requirements for the licence.
The GRA checks a file for completeness within 14 days. These ten items are what it looks for in an online application.
01
Kenyan company - registered in Kenya with a physical address there (s.79(1)) and an account at a bank licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya (L.N. 112 reg. 30(1)).
02
Kenyan shareholders - at least 30% of the shares held by Kenyan citizens (s.29); only an export-only operator can ask for a waiver (L.N. 113 reg. 5).
03
Gambling capital and security - proof of capital under the Third Schedule of L.N. 111 and a bond or bank guarantee under s.40, amounts confirmed with the GRA before filing.
04
Gambling control system - compatible with the Authority's central management system and open to real-time monitoring by secure API (L.N. 112 regs. 41(e) and 44).
05
Kenyan hosting - player data stored and processed on servers in Kenya unless the GRA grants a written exemption (L.N. 112 reg. 42(2)), with server locations disclosed (s.68(6)).
06
Telecoms and customer care - a valid telecommunication licence and a customer care centre inside Kenya (s.68(8)).
07
Games and domain - an agreement with a licensed games provider and the domain name, both filed with the application (L.N. 111 reg. 11(2)).
08
Key people - a Certificate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, ID, qualifications and work permits for foreign nationals (L.N. 111 reg. 17).
09
Tax standing - a KRA PIN and a Tax Compliance Certificate, plus the declarations in the Act's Second Schedule.
10
AML/CFT programme - policies under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (Cap. 59A); casinos, internet casinos included, report cash transactions from USD 15,000 (FRC guidance, 2023).
01
Kenyan company and address.
02
30% Kenyan-citizen shares.
03
Capital and bond per schedule.
04
System linked to the GRA.
05
Player data in Kenya.
06
Telecom licence, local care centre.
07
Games provider agreement.
08
Key people cleared by the DCI.
09
KRA PIN, tax compliance.
10
AML/CFT under Cap. 59A.
Reflects the Gambling Control Act 2025 and L.N. 111-114 of 2026 as of October 2026.Gambling Control Act 2025 + L.N. 111-114/2026.
How it works
From first call to a GRA licence.
01
Route and ownership
Domestic or export-only, and the shareholder map that goes with it, agreed in writing before money is spent.Domestic or export-only.
02
Company and people
Kenyan company registered, 30% citizen shareholding in place, key people cleared by the DCI.30% Kenyan shareholding.
03
Systems and hosting
Kenyan servers, a telecom licence, the local customer care centre and the central monitoring link, built and tested with your platform team.Local hosting, GRA link.
04
Filing and review
Application lodged under L.N. 111: completeness check within 14 days, decision due within 30.14 days, then 30.
05
Licence and launch
A 36-month licence, copied to the county government within 14 days (s.30(9)). Excise returns and payout deadlines run from the first day.36 months.
Quick facts
RegulatorGRA · successor of the BCLB
ActGambling Control Act 2025
In force20 August 2025
Local ownership30% Kenyan citizens
Decision period30 days (L.N. 111 reg. 20)
Licence term36 months
Excise5% of deposits
Realistic timeline4-6 months
The 30 days count from receipt, after a 14-day completeness check. Most of the 4-6 months goes on the shareholding and the hosting build before filing, and we run the two in parallel.
On the ground in Kenya
Run from our Nairobi office.
Prifinance - Kenya
Nairobi · Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya
01
Company and shareholders
The Kenyan company and its 30% citizen shareholding, papered with a shareholders' agreement that keeps control where the business needs it.30% Kenyan, properly papered.
02
The GRA application
The L.N. 111 file drafted in full, so the 14-day completeness check passes and the 30-day clock runs on the first submission.Complete by day 14.
03
Hosting and integration
Kenyan hosting for player data and the secure API to the Authority's monitoring system, both tested before launch. The server disclosure under s.68(6) goes in with the file.Kenyan servers, live API.
04
Advertising clearance
Campaigns cleared with the GRA before they air: KSh 50,000 plus 6% of the budget, and no TV or radio between 6am and 10pm outside live sport.Cleared before it airs.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Väike-Paala tn 1
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of gaming operators in Kenya.
Kenya taxes the deposit rather than the stake, and it has changed the excise rule more than once since 2019.
Excise 5% of deposits
Since 1 July 2025 excise is 5% of the amount a customer puts into a betting or gaming wallet, replacing 15% of the amount staked (Finance Act 2025).On deposits since 1.7.2025.
Horse racing from 1 July 2026
The Finance Act 2026 applies the same 5% deposit excise to betting on horse racing.Included from 1.7.2026.
Advertising at 6% of budget
Every campaign needs GRA approval, charged at KSh 50,000 plus 6% of the advertising budget (L.N. 114, Second Schedule).KSh 50k + 6% of budget.
No GGR rate in the Act
The 2025 Act sets no GGR tax and no levy rate. KRA guidance on a revenue-based betting tax still refers to the repealed Cap. 131, so we confirm the position with KRA before modelling it.Confirmed with KRA first.
Winnings withholding
Operators withhold tax on player winnings under the Income Tax Act. We confirm the current rate with KRA before quoting it.Rate confirmed per case.
Corporate tax 30%
Resident companies pay 30% corporate tax, per KRA. Branch and non-resident positions are modelled per structure.Resident companies, per KRA.
Tax summary
Excise - betting and gaming5% of deposits
Excise - lotteries5% of the ticket price
Advertising approvalKSh 50,000 + 6% of budget
Winnings withholdingConfirmed with KRA per case
Corporate tax30% for resident companies
*As of 2026 per the Excise Duty Act 2015 as amended by the Finance Acts 2025 and 2026, KRA and L.N. 114/2026. Group and founder-level outcomes are modelled per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Kenyan company, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, licensed operator.
Follow Prifinance
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Kenya · GRA
Launch your gaming project in Kenya with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from the Kenyan company and its 30% shareholding to hosting, the GRA application and advertising approvals - run through our Nairobi office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Kenya the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Kenya gaming licence, answered.
Who licenses gambling in Kenya?+
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya, created by s.6 of the Gambling Control Act 2025 as successor to the Betting Control and Licensing Board. The Act came into force on 20 August 2025 and repealed the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act of 1966.
Can a foreign company hold a Kenyan online licence?+
Only through a Kenyan-registered company with a physical address in Kenya (s.79(1)) whose shares are at least 30% held by Kenyan citizens (s.29). The export-only licence under L.N. 113/2026 is the one route where the Authority can waive the 30% rule.
What does the domestic online licence cost?+
The gazetted fees, capital and bond amounts sit in the schedules to L.N. 111/2026, and we confirm them with the GRA before quoting. For scale only, the March 2026 consultation draft proposed KSh 3 million to apply and KSh 50 million of gambling capital for an online bookmaker.
What is the foreign-based operator licence?+
A Kenyan licence for operators whose players are all outside Kenya: KSh 10 million to apply, a KSh 100 million licence fee, KSh 10 million a year, KSh 100 million paid-up capital and a KSh 200 million bond (L.N. 113/2026). Kenyan residents must be geo-blocked.
How long does the GRA take to decide?+
Regulation 20 of L.N. 111 gives 14 days for the completeness check and 30 days from receipt to consider the file. Plan for 4-6 months end to end, because the company, shareholders, hosting and integration all come before filing.
How long is a licence valid?+
36 months from the date of issue (s.31(3)). Renewal is filed at least 90 days before expiry and decided within 30 days (L.N. 111 reg. 24), and a licence cannot be transferred (reg. 28).
How are betting and gaming taxed?+
Excise is 5% of every deposit into a betting or gaming wallet, in force since 1 July 2025 and extended to horse racing from 1 July 2026. Resident companies pay 30% corporate tax. The withholding rate on winnings is confirmed with KRA per case.
Must player data stay in Kenya?+
Yes, unless the Authority grants a written exemption: player data is stored and processed on servers in Kenya (L.N. 112 reg. 42(2)). The gambling system also feeds the GRA's central monitoring in real time through a secure API.
Kenya or South Africa for an African sportsbook?+
South Africa has the proven book: online betting produced R44.46 billion of GGR in the year to March 2025, and a new Western Cape bookmaker licence costs R16,343 to apply for. Kenya answers with one national licence and a 30-day decision rule, and it licenses online casino; the price is Kenyan shareholders and local servers.
Why Prifinance for Kenya?+
We structure the Kenyan company and its 30% shareholding and draft the L.N. 111 file so the 30-day clock starts on a complete application. Local hosting and the GRA monitoring link are built alongside, from our Nairobi office.
Regulator?+
GRA, since 20.08.2025.
Foreign owner?+
Yes, with 30% Kenyan shareholders.
Domestic cost?+
Per L.N. 111 schedules, confirmed.
Export-only?+
KSh 100M fee + 200M bond.
How long?+
30-day rule; 4-6 months real.
Term?+
36 months.
Tax?+
5% of deposits + CIT.
Data?+
Kenyan servers by default.
Or South Africa?+
Bigger proven book, provincial licences.
Why you?+
Nairobi office, complete files.
Client notes
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Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.