Kenya approves 99 betting firms for new fiscal year
According to the Betting Control and Licensing Board, the companies have fulfilled all requirements and are licensed to operate in the country under the regulatory framework.
Kenya.- The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has published the list of betting companies approved to operate in Kenya for the 2025/2026 financial year. Numbering 99, the list includes popular names like 1xBet, SportPesa, Betika, Melbet, Dafabet, Mayfair Casino and more.
According to the board, the 99 companies have fulfilled all requirements and are licensed to operate under the regulatory framework for the upcoming fiscal year. A statement from the regulator read: “Further to our letter REF: BCLB 15/1/VOL.1 (65) dated 30 June 2025, we inform you that the attached list of gaming companies have been approved for a license and therefore to continue operating after the expiry of the 30-day extension.”
The new licensing wave is part of Kenya’s efforts to make its gaming sector more transparent and accountable, while protecting consumers and promoting responsible gaming practices.
Due to heightened concerns of problem gambling and the proliferation of gambling ads on various media platforms, the BCLB and several other agencies have had to implement sweeping reforms to regulate the gambling industry.
Some of them include a ban on celebrity endorsements, restrictions on print media, and outdoor advertising.
A bill is also currently being reviewed in the National Assembly that could see betting operators allocate a portion of their revenue towards the rehabilitation of gambling addicts. The measure also seeks to increase the minimum capital licensing requirements for gambling operators as well as raise the legal betting age to 21.
However, despite these stringent measures that could potentially reduce their player base and revenue, the sheer number of betting companies that still applied to operate in the jurisdiction reflects the market’s lucrativeness, which will see operators make the necessary sacrifices to ensure compliance in order to tap into its potential.
