Is online casino legal in Kenya?
Yes, but only through a licence. The Gambling Control Act, 2025 names an online casino licence in section 67(1)(c) and bars any gambling activity that is not licensed (s.28(1)). An unlicensed site is outside the law, and the duty to hold a licence falls on the operator.
The short answer, with the section behind it
Online casino gambling is lawful in Kenya as a licensed activity and not otherwise. Section 28(1) of the Gambling Control Act, 2025 says a person shall not offer any gambling activity or service unless it is licensed under the Act. Section 67(1) then lists the licences for online gambling: an online bookmakers licence, an online lottery licence and an online casino licence.
The Act (No. 14 of 2025) was assented to on 7 August 2025 and commenced on 26 August 2025. Section 120 repealed the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act, so the current rules are the 2025 Act and the 2026 regulations made under it. The practical question for an adult is therefore not "is it allowed" but "is this particular company licensed", and how to check an online casino licence in Kenya answers that.
| Question | What the text says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| May anyone offer casino games online? | Only a licensee. An online casino licence is one of three online gambling licences | Act, s.28(1) and s.67(1)(c) |
| Does a foreign company need a licence? | Yes, and it must be registered in Kenya with a registered physical address | Act, s.79(1) |
| What if a foreign operator serves Kenya without one? | An offence; for a company, a fine up to KES 50,000,000 | Act, s.79(3)(b) |
| What if anyone runs gambling without a valid licence? | An offence; first offence up to KES 3,000,000 or three years, or both | Act, s.98(a) |
| Who must register and prove age? | Every player, before the operator lets them play | Act, s.72(1) and s.72(3) |
| Are old licences still good? | Yes, for the period of the licence, then a new application | Act, s.122(1) and s.122(2) |
What "online gambling" and "casino" mean in the Act
Section 2 defines online gambling as any form of gambling in which persons participate by the use of remote communication and on the internet. It defines a casino as any designated premise or part of a premise, approved virtual or online platform or site, where a person may participate in a game approved by the Authority.
So the Act treats a website with approved games as a casino in the same sense as a hall with tables. The licence type that covers tables and slot machines is described in what a public gaming licence means in Kenya.
Who carries the legal duty
The offences for running gambling without permission are written against the operator or promoter. Section 98 covers a person who operates or conducts any form of gambling without a valid licence: up to KES 3,000,000 or three years, or both, for a first offence, and up to KES 5,000,000 or five years, or both, for a second or later one.
Section 92 reaches owners and occupiers of electronic sites that aid unlicensed management, and anyone who announces, publishes or solicits any person to bet in an unlicensed gambling activity or site. Its penalty is a fine up to KES 1,000,000, or imprisonment up to one year, or both. Section 109 deals with betting with a child, which is why the age checks in section 72 matter.
None of these provisions names an adult player as the person committing the offence. That describes the wording of the Act and is not legal advice; a person with a specific situation should ask a qualified Kenyan advocate.
Why a licence matters to the player
Most of the player protections in Part VIII attach to a licensee. A licensee must conduct online gambling under a gambling control system the Authority has approved (s.68(1)), and that system must provide for protection against under age gambling and against vulnerability in gambling (s.68(2)(d) and (e)). The full list of duties is in what Kenyan law requires of an online casino.
A company with no licence has not been through that approval. If something goes wrong there is no licensee for the Authority to act against, which is the practical gap behind the legal one. Where the company is licensed, the route is described in how to complain about an online casino in Kenya.
The licence period and the register
Licences issued under the repealed Act stay valid for their term (s.122(1)), and the holder applies to the Authority for a new licence on expiry (s.122(2)). This is why the regulator's list is headed "Licensed gaming companies for the trading period 2025/26" and carries BK, PG and PL columns for bookmaker, public gaming and public lottery licence numbers.
The list was last modified on 2026-03-19, so it describes the 2025/26 period and may be out of date. The site reproduces the entries that show a domain in its table of licensed online casino domains, and how to read the GRA list of licensed operators explains each column. Always confirm on the live page at gra.go.ke/licensed-operators/.
Advertising is a separate legal question
Section 87(1) of the Act bars promoting the advertisement of a gambling activity on electronic media without the Authority's approval. Regulation 14 of the Advertising Regulations, 2026 (L.N. 114) makes publishing an unapproved or prohibited gambling advertisement an offence: a fine up to KES 1,000,000, or imprisonment up to six months, or both.
This is one reason this site names licensed companies only as register facts and does not promote any of them.
A note on risk
Legal does not mean harmless. Gambling is addictive, it is for adults aged 18+, and it is not a way to earn money. Tools to stop are explained in how to self-exclude from online casinos in Kenya, and the responsible gambling page lists the GRA toll-free line.
Questions and answers
Is it illegal for me to play at an online casino that has no Kenyan licence?
The Act places its offences on operators, owners, occupiers, promoters and publishers. Sections 79(3), 92 and 98 are framed around them, and none of the offence sections read for this guide names an adult player as the offender. That is a description of the text, not legal advice, and an unlicensed site gives you none of the protections the Act sets for licensed play.
Does a foreign casino need a Kenyan licence to serve Kenyans?
Yes. Section 79(1) allows an online gambling licence for a foreign based operator only if it is registered in Kenya, has a physical address registered in Kenya and meets the regulations. Section 79(3) makes it an offence for a foreign based operator to provide online gambling services in Kenya without a licence.
Can a licence issued under the old law still be valid?
Yes, for its term. Section 122(1) says gambling activities, including online gambling, licensed under the repealed Act remain valid for the period of the licence. Section 122(2) requires the holder to apply to the Gambling Regulatory Authority for a new licence when it expires.
Can a website or social account point people to an unlicensed casino?
Section 92(c) makes it an offence to announce, publish or solicit any person to bet in an unlicensed gambling activity or site. The fine is up to one million shillings, or imprisonment up to one year, or both.
Is there a minimum age for online casino play in Kenya?
The Act speaks of the age of majority and of keeping children out. Section 72(3) requires an operator to ask for proof of age of majority before registering every player, and section 72(2) requires mechanisms so that a child is not registered. This site treats the age as 18+.
Where can I see which companies are licensed?
On the Gambling Regulatory Authority's page of licensed gaming companies, which this site reproduces with a date. The list describes the 2025/26 trading period and the page was last modified on 2026-03-19, so check the live page before relying on it.
Sources
- Gambling Control Act, 2025 (No. 14 of 2025), ss.2, 28, 67, 72, 79, 92, 98, 120, 122 and the commencement note, accessed 2026-10-05
- Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya, Licensed gaming companies for the trading period 2025/26, accessed 2026-10-05
- Gambling Control (Advertising) Regulations, 2026 (L.N. 114), r.14, accessed 2026-10-05