{"id":4404,"date":"2025-06-27T09:35:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T12:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/?p=4404"},"modified":"2026-04-19T16:00:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T19:00:32","slug":"igaming-in-kenya-melbet-explains-how-to-develop-a-presence-in-geo-after-the-ban-on-working-with-influencers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/igaming-in-kenya-melbet-explains-how-to-develop-a-presence-in-geo-after-the-ban-on-working-with-influencers","title":{"rendered":"igaming in Kenya: MelBet explains how to develop a presence in geo after the ban on working with influencers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>MelBet shares its experience of the most effective way to enter the Kenyan market, adapting its strategy to the country\u2019s regulations and restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>Opinion.- In 2025,\u00a0<strong>Kenya\u00a0<\/strong>will become one of the most promising markets for igaming. Many mistakenly underestimate the country and are reluctant to take risks. In reality, now is the best time to enter the market, as clearly demonstrated by the\u00a0MelBet Partners\u00a0team. We spoke with company representatives who shared their data and analysis for this GEO in the first half of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is Kenya so promising?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no simple answer to this question. The prospects for work and revenue in the region depend on several key factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start with the legality of&nbsp;<strong>betting and gambling<\/strong>. In Kenya, both are fully legal and have been regulated since 1966 under the&nbsp;<strong>Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act<\/strong>&nbsp;(BLGA). Only licensed operators with a local permit may offer these services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Target audience and their preferences&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Experience and data from MelBet Partners show that the Kenyan audience is highly engaged, young, and active. Below is key information about the country:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Population: 57 million<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Youth population: over 30 per cent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Average client age: 18\u201335<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Internet penetration rate: 88 per cent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Active mobile connections: over 68 million<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Individual internet users: 27 million<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Active social media users: 15 million<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mobile traffic share: 71.98 per cent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Annual population growth: +1.1 million<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can easily compare these metrics with other GEOs to see the difference. Don\u2019t overlook the steady annual population growth and high level of digital adoption \u2014 these figures are only expected to increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kenyan users\u2019 favourite devices&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re planning to work in Kenya, this information is essential:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Main browser traffic share: Chrome (72.09 per cent), Opera (18.16 per cent), Safari (2.99 per cent), EDGE (2.44 per cent), Firefox (1.78 per cent)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Main mobile OS share: Android (91.58 per cent), iOS (4.09 per cent)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smartphone usage: 71.98 per cent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laptops and PCs: 26.91 per cent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tablets: 1.09 per cent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What do Kenyans play?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All gambling activities fall into two categories: games and sports betting. MelBet Partners shared their statistics from the past year. Let\u2019s look at the most popular games:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Crash games<\/strong>: Aviator (Spribe), JetX (SmartSoft), Aviatrix, CosmoX, GlobalX (OnlyPlay). These games are simple, fast, visually engaging, and have high retention rates. They are also well-optimised for mobile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Slots and providers<\/strong>: Pragmatic Play (Sweet Bonanza, Gates of Olympus), Play\u2019n GO (Book of Dead, Reactoonz), NetEnt (Starburst, Gonzo\u2019s Quest), Betsoft, Endorphina<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Live casino<\/strong>: Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, Poker. Top providers: Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play Live, Ezugi, BetGames.TV<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scratch cards<\/strong>: Simple mechanics with low entry thresholds. Top providers: NeoGames, Playtech, Microgaming, Iron Dog Studio<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Offline lotteries<\/strong>: Shabiki Power 13, Betika Jackpot, Mozzart Super Jackpot \u2014 still popular due to low ticket prices<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Kenyans\u2019 favourite sports<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Football<\/strong>: The number one national interest. Popular leagues include the English Premier League (EPL), La Liga, Serie A, UEFA Champions League, and the local FKF Premier League<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Athletics<\/strong>: Popular due to national culture. Bettors focus on international marathons, Olympic events, and Kenyan runners\u2019 achievements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rugby Sevens<\/strong>: Kenya has a strong team. Bettors favour international and university-level tournaments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Volleyball<\/strong>: The Kenyan women\u2019s team is one of the strongest in Africa<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Boxing and Cricket<\/strong>: Boxing enjoys widespread popularity; cricket has historical roots in the region<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Effective marketing approaches&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2024, the regulations on promoting gambling changed. As of 2025,\u00a0<strong>advertising involving influencers is banned<\/strong>\u00a0in Kenya. This led many brands to exit the market.\u00a0MelBet, however, adapted and developed their own formula for success:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use organic channels (Facebook and Google)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthen cooperation with webmasters and media buying teams<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus on the product rather than personalities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always design promotional materials in compliance with regulatory requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create multi-channel landing pages in English and Swahili<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conduct A\/B testing of funnels based on user behaviour across device types<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GEO outlook and summary&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you can see why Kenya is one of the most&nbsp;<strong>promising and dynamic&nbsp;<\/strong>regions for 2025. For affiliates and teams experienced in mobile-first environments and performance marketing, the market offers a low entry threshold and high user loyalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always remember to&nbsp;<strong>adapt your offers to reflect current local legislation<\/strong>. What worked well last year may no longer be effective this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MelBet shares its experience of the most effective way to enter the Kenyan market, adapting its strategy to the country\u2019s regulations and restrictions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":176,"featured_media":4406,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"is_press_release":false,"is_interview":false,"is_opinion":true,"focusai_summary":"MelBet shares its strategic insights for successful market entry into Kenya, highlighting the country's promising iGaming landscape for 2025. The analysis covers regulatory compliance under the BLGA, key audience demographics, popular gaming verticals, and adapted marketing approaches following the 2025 influencer advertising ban.","focusai_entities":"MelBet, MelBet Partners, Spribe, SmartSoft, OnlyPlay, Pragmatic Play, Play\u2019n GO, NetEnt, Betsoft, Endorphina, Evolution Gaming, Ezugi, BetGames.TV, NeoGames, Playtech, Microgaming, Iron Dog Studio, Shabiki Power 13, Betika Jackpot, Mozzart Super Jackpot, English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, UEFA Champions League, FKF Premier League, Facebook, Google","focusai_location":"Kenya","focusai_target_profile":"ceo_executive (0.95), regulator (0.9), compliance_legal (0.9), operator_casino (0.98), affiliate_publisher (0.95), product_ux (0.85), marketing_crm (0.98), investor_analyst (0.95), supplier_vendor (0.9), journalist_researcher (0.95)","focusai_suggestions":[{"label":"Kenya GGR Projections?","query":"Given MelBet's market entry success, what are the projected Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) and Net Gaming Revenue (NGR) growth rates for the Kenyan iGaming market over the next 3-5 years, considering the current regulatory and competitive landscape?"},{"label":"BLGA Compliance Challenges?","query":"Beyond the advertising ban, what specific challenges or ambiguities exist within Kenya's 1966 Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act (BLGA) that could impact B2B\/B2C licensing or operational compliance for new entrants?"}],"footnotes":""},"categories":[60013,60307,60018],"tags":[60346],"class_list":["post-4404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-east-africa","category-opinion","category-partner-news","tag-melbet"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/176"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4404"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4404\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4405,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4404\/revisions\/4405"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}