Is online gambling legal in Kenya?
Yes. The Betting Lotteries and Gaming Act (1966) established the Betting Control and Licensing Board in Kenya. This Board has been given the authority to issue licenses to sportsbooks in the country. If any sportsbook whether online or brick and mortar, must be licensed to function legally.
Is it safe to bet online in Kenya?
Yes, Kenya has made sports betting legal since 1966 and online betting started in the country in 2014. It is regulated by the Betting Control and Licensing Board so bettors need to make sure that they create online accounts with officially licensed players only.
How do deposits and withdrawals work in Kenya for online betting?
Kenya has many online betting platforms available so payment systems vary from site to site.
Most Kenyan websites have set up M-Pesa – a mobile-based money transfer service. All that users need to do is create an account with M-Pesa, deposit funds into the account and then load that into their sportsbook account/wallet.
Withdrawals are as easy as deposits. Players can request for withdrawals with the click of a button and select to leave the balance in their bank account or transfer it elsewhere.
Visa and MasterCard are very popular for global websites that are accessible in Kenya. E-wallets like Neteller and Skrill function like M-Pesa and are widely accepted as well. For large amounts of deposits that may exceed the credit card limits, bank transfers are also available.
Even pre-paid credit and debit card payment options are available on several online sports betting platforms.
Is mobile betting available in Kenya?
Almost every sportsbook in the country is mobile-friendly. The Kenyan betting market is constantly growing and expanding so companies are heavily investing in making applications and websites as advanced and user-friendly as possible for a pleasant, safe, and secure online betting experience for its customers.
Which are the popular sports for betting in Kenya?
Football (soccer) is the biggest sport in Kenya. Kenyans love European football and it is the biggest revenue source in the country from sports betting. The English Premier League, Spanish La Liga and UEFA Champions League are the popular competitions.
Kenyans love cricket, rugby and boxing too. Surprisingly, e-sports betting has become a craze in the nation over the past few years.
Are winnings from betting taxable?
Yes, winnings are taxable but it is not a very high percentage of your winnings.
Is the sports betting market fairly regulated in Kenya?
Yes, there is nothing to be worried about as online betting platforms and sportsbooks have to be registered and licensed by the Betting Control and Licensing Board to provide betting services.