Kenya suspends annual gambling licence applications during transition to new Gambling Authority
All annual gambling licence applications suspended as Kenya’s Betting Control Board transitions authority to the newly established GRA by February 2026.
Kenya.- The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has suspended all annual gambling licence applications, including both renewals and new licences, as it prepares to transfer regulatory powers to the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya (GRA).
In a public notice dated 2 October 2025, the BCLB said that current licensees may continue operating under existing conditions until their licences expire, with the transition to the GRA to be finalised by February 2026.
The notice states: “The transition process is scheduled to be completed by the end of February 2026. A further communication will be issued to announce the official commencement of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya and the resumption of licensing activities under the new regime.”
Director General of BCLB, Peter Mbugi, encouraged operators, stakeholders and the public to remain attentive to official updates and described the transition as a “critical step towards a modern, robust and responsible regulatory framework”. He also thanked the public and stakeholders for their patience and cooperation during this period.
GRA modernises gambling under new 2025 Act
The transition marks the handover of regulatory powers from the BCLB to the newly established GRA, which will oversee all gambling activities under the Gambling Control Act, 2025.
Signed into law by President William Ruto in August 2025 and officially commencing on 16 August 2025, the Act replaces the “decades-old” Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap 131. It modernises Kenya’s gambling sector by introducing stricter compliance measures, enhanced consumer protection and a unified regulatory framework under the GRA.
Beyond suspending annual licence applications, the Act introduces measures to strengthen oversight and accountability. These include streamlining online and county-level operations, implementing consumer safeguards such as self-exclusion programs and advertising limits and enhancing compliance through real-time monitoring, anti-money laundering protocols and data protection requirements.
The GRA will replace the BCLB as the statutory regulator, with the transition already underway to ensure a seamless shift to the new framework. The Board’s notice also highlighted that the GRA is formulating comprehensive regulations under the Act, covering licensing procedures, compliance standards and operational guidelines necessary for the industry to operate under the new law.
With the transition now in progress, Kenya’s gambling sector is set for modern, accountable and unified oversight under the GRA, signalling a new era for operators and players alike.
