Best Betting Sites in Kenya: Online Betting in Kenya

Kenya is the third-largest sports betting market in Africa, trumped only by South Africa and Nigeria. Sports betting is attractive for two reasons. Firstly, it allows players to become connected to their favorite sports or teams. Next, the chance to turn a small sum into a huge win is too good for many to pass on.

There are many sites taking bets from Kenyan citizens, and that number will grow soon. On this page, you’ll learn more about sports betting in Kenya, the types of sports that players regularly bet on and how you can get started betting games online.

Kenyan Betting Sites

Sports betting is huge in Kenya, with a market estimated to be worth $40 million in 2020, and rapidly growing. The country currently has nearly 30 licenses sportsbooks and many other lisenses casinos.

Like in most areas of Africa, Kenyans love watching and participating in live sports, and this is one of the driving factors in the growth of sports betting in Kenya. While football is the top sport bet on by players, there’s still plenty of action on other sports such as basketball, boxing, cricket, Aussie Rules football and more.

There are plenty of ways to bet on your favorite games. Most commonly, bettors wager on individual games based on odds. With the right odds, betting the underdog can lead to a massive payday, even if it’s not your favorite team. Sites also allow you to place bets based on how a team will finish in league play, in playoffs or tournament play, and in some cases you can make specialized bets such as how many goals a team will score in a particular game.

Sports betting sites are open to all players and all experience levels. Sites have tutorials to make it easy for you to place bets. Remember, sports betting, like any other form of gambling, should be done for fun and with money you can afford to lose.

Betting sites offer new players special offers at sign-up, and we recommend that you check these offers out. Most websites offer a welcome bonus with a deposit match of 100 percent or more. Free bets to new players are also a common promotion run by sites. Visit the promotions section of each website to check out available offers.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Kenya?

Sports betting is entirely legal in Kenya and has been so since 1966 thanks to the Betting Lotteries and Gaming Act. Kenya was one of the first countries in Africa to legalize all forms of betting and casino games.

The law also applies to online sports betting in Kenya. Back in 2011, the Amaya Gaming Group, now The Stars Group, was legally allowed to operate an online gambling site. The site has since closed, and there are technically no legal places online to place sports bets.

The good news is that Kenya’s government does not outright ban sports betting sites and presently does not prosecute citizens for using sites located outside of Kenya. As a result, many reputable websites offer services to Kenyan citizens. It is also possible that the government will license sites again in the future to provide a legal alternative under Kenyan law.

What are Popular Sports to Bet on in Kenya?

Football is easily the most popular sport to bet on in Kenya. A lot of action from Kenya centers on the English Premier League, but there is also a lot of betting on the Europa League, Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga.

Kenyans also love cricket, rugby and Aussie Rules football with a lot of action on most games, especially the championships. Also, there’s plenty of action available on international sports such as the NBA, NFL, MMA and boxing. Many sites even offer bets on esports such as the Counter-strike and Overwatch leagues.

What is Kenya’s New Gambling Tax?

In 2018, Kenya introducted a bill into law that imposed a flat 35 percent tax on all gambling revenues, including sports betting. The 35 percent rate was one of the highest in the world but is lower than the 50 percent rate initially suggested. Later that year, the tax (which only applies to operators) was lowered to 15 percent.

In 2018 and 2020, new laws were passed that adjusted the Kenyan gambling tax system and attemp to curb underage gambling, but many feel that high taxes will instead inhibit the overall growth of the industry. Jackpot winnings are taxed at 20 percent and the bill maintains the 15 percent across-the-board gambling tax.

How to Make a Deposit At a Sportsbook in Kenya

Depositing on Kenyan sportsbooks is easy. After registering for your account, head to the cashier section and select deposit. You’ll find numerous options for funding your account.

The easiest way to fund your account is through a credit card or via bank draft. Visa and MasterCard along with Visa Electron and Maestro are the most commonly accepted credit and debit cards. Selected sportsbooks may even accept cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin.

Most deposits are instantaneous. Bank drafts may take up to 48 hours to process.

You can also use a wide variety of e-wallets to fund your account. PayPal, Skrill and Neteller are among the most popular options.

Once you’re ready to withdraw your winnings, the process is easy provided your identity is already verified. You may have to cash out to the same account you used to make your deposit.

Otherwise, alternative withdrawal options are available on the site. On average, withdrawals take just 24 to 48 hours to process.

Mobile Betting Options

The majority of the best sports betting sites in Kenya now offer mobile betting options. Some sportsbooks will offer a mobile app you need to install on your tablet or smartphone. Others will provide access through your mobile web browser.

Mobile apps will often offer many of the same features as the website. You’ll be able to fund and cash out from your mobile device and place bets on many of your favorite teams. Certain types of betting may be restricted, or the number of available bets may be lower on mobile apps.

Sites offering mobile-optimized sites through your device’s web browser tend to be the best mobile option. The reason is that the entire website has been optimized rather than just a few options. These sites often offer full functionality and the ability to make any bet via your mobile that you would on your PC, laptop or Mac.

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