Kenya gambling tax revenue hits US$247m, AGOK reports
AGOK says Kenya’s betting and gaming taxes rose to KSh32bn by the end of April 2026, with KRA also weighing safer-gambling incentives for compliant operators.
Kenya.- The Association of Gaming Operators Kenya (AGOK) has reported that the country’s gambling industry generated KSh32bn (US$247m) in tax revenue by the end of April 2026, up from KSh24bn in the 2022/23 financial year. The figure was highlighted during the iGaming AFRIKA Summit in Nairobi, where the association said operators and regulators discussed taxation, compliance and responsible gambling.
In a LinkedIn post, AGOK quoted J.W. Otieno, chief manager at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), as saying the increase reflected both rising customer participation and stronger operator compliance. The association also said the gaming sector’s tax payments were helping to fund public services such as health, education and infrastructure, while easing the burden on the wider tax base
Otieno said: “There is clear evidence on the year-on-year rise in total taxes collected from the industry from Ksh24bn in financial year 2022/2023 to Ksh32bn as at end April 2026…and counting!”
According to AGOK, Otieno told delegates that KRA is exploring “a reduced excise duty rate for operators that implement credible player safety initiatives.” The association said the tax authority does not want to “tax the industry out of existence” and is instead looking at technology-led regulation that supports long-term growth and shared prosperity
AGOK added that gaming tax revenues have contributed towards public services, including healthcare, education and infrastructure development, while also helping reduce the broader tax burden on citizens.
Wider discussions at IGA focused on balancing taxation, regulation and responsible gambling measures as African gaming markets continue to expand, with industry stakeholders highlighting the need for sustainable policy frameworks that support both growth and consumer protection.
AGOK also said Kenya is increasingly positioning itself as a key regulatory and commercial hub for Africa’s gaming industry. The association further said KRA is pursuing a collaborative approach towards regulation and taxation rather than measures that could undermine industry sustainability.
“The KRA is not interested in taxing the industry out of existence but rather leveraging on technology to revive and transform Africa’s gaming industry, aiming for shared prosperity,” the association quoted Otieno as saying.
