New Gambling Bill Requires Operators to Place a KSh200 Million Deposit

Online gambling companies planning to obtain a license from the Kenya Betting Control and Licensing Board (BLCB) will not be required to part ways with a proposed KSH 200 million deposit. The new bill awaits President William Ruto’s signature into law.

Kenya’s National Assembly passed this bill in January 2025, and according to Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, it will prevent exploitative practices and protect Kenyan gamblers.

In addition to the hefty fee, the bill also aims to enforce a 15% gaming tax on all gambling revenue, which should be remitted to the Kenya Revenue Authority on the 20th of each month.

On the brighter side, the Senator had proposed an additional 15% tax, but the National Assembly rejected it. Other amendments proposed by the Senate were also dismissed, including the suggestion to lower the minimum betting stake from KSH 20 to KSH 1. The members of parliament argued that this move would encourage underage gambling.

Another rejected proposal was to reduce the security deposit for gambling licensed from the current 200 million to KSH 20 million. This move was dismissed on the grounds that it would open the doors to fraud operators.

The Senate also sought to allow counties the authority to regulate gambling, but MPs held the position of main national-level control, which would help ensure uniformity in the enforcement of gambling laws.

While passing this bill will be harsh on gambling operators, it will benefit Kenyan bettors and casino players in several ways. These include;

• Reduce the number of fraudulent betting companies
• Promote responsible gambling
• Access to established gambling companies

Unfortunately, this bill could also have some negative repercussions. For example, some bettors might opt to use offshore betting companies that accept Kenyan users. Some of these sites might not be licensed, so punters will risk being defrauded.