Kenya rakes in nearly Sh100 billion from gamblers since 2018
As gambling surges online, Parliament hears of soaring tax revenues, illegal betting sites, and a watchdog grappling with outdated laws and budget constraints.
Kenya.- Kenya has amassed nearly Sh100 billion ($750m) in gambling taxes over the last seven years, marking an explosive rise in online betting, but regulators warn the system is cracking under the pressure.
In a session before the National Assembly Sports and Culture Committee, the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) this week revealed that the country collected Sh96.7 billion ($725m) in gambling taxes between the 2018/19 and 2024/25 financial years (up to February 2025).
The windfall underscores the nation’s growing appetite for online betting, with the industry surging more than tenfold in that period – from Sh8.5 billion ($64m) to the current figure.
Unregulated gambling activity
But behind the headline numbers lies a darker reality.
“The penetration of offshore websites offering gambling products has also added extra challenges in the industry, exposing punters to unregulated gambling activity,” BCLB Director Peter Mbugi told The Standard publication.
According to Mbugi, a potent cocktail of high unemployment, economic strain and the allure of “easy money” is driving Kenyans, especially the youth, to gambling platforms, many of which are illegal and offshore.
In documents tabled before the committee, the Board said it had flagged 106 unauthorised websites in its attempt to clamp down on illegal gambling. But with an archaic law and the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act (Cap 131) still governing the sector, enforcement remains weak.
Financial constraints
Budget woes have further hamstrung the BCLB. Over the years, the Board’s funding has hovered just above Sh100 million ($750,000), dipping as low as Sh98 million ($735,000) this fiscal year – woefully insufficient for robust enforcement and public awareness programs.
“The open cyber space – thanks to globalisation – that allows easy access to unauthorised foreign gaming sites, use of virtual assets such as cryptocurrency and other emerging technologies have also proven to be a challenge in the war against illegal gambling,” said Mbugi.
Yet, there’s a renewed regulatory push. New advertising guidelines will classify gambling content as adult material, limiting its exposure and banning outdoor promotions, influencers, and celebrity endorsements.
