Kenya's new gambling regulator: the GRA explained
On 30 June 2026 the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) replaced the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB). Here's what actually changes for Kenyan bettors, the dates that matter, and how we're tracking which sites stay licensed.
What changed
Kenya regulated gambling through the Betting Control and Licensing Board for decades. The Gambling Control Act replaced that framework with a single, stronger regulator — the Gambling Regulatory Authority — and on 30 June 2026 the GRA's regulations were gazetted, formally ending the BCLB era. The new rules go well beyond licensing: they set advertising restrictions, establish a gambling appeals tribunal, and create a National Lottery. The transition hasn't been friction-free — court petitions have challenged the appointment of the GRA's first director-general — but the licensing process is proceeding.
The dates that matter
- February 2026The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), created by the Gambling Control Act, becomes operational and its first director-general takes office. Processing of new and renewal licence applications under the old regime is suspended during the handover.
- 30 June 2026The GRA's Gambling Control Regulations are gazetted and the BCLB era formally ends. The FY2025/26 licences issued by the BCLB expire with the financial year, but a transitional rule keeps them valid for 60 more days.
- 1 July – 29 August 2026The transitional window: operators keep their BCLB licence rights while they apply for new licences from the GRA. Kenya's first GRA licensing cycle runs during this period.
- 29 August 2026Transitional validity of BCLB-issued licences ends. From 30 August, only operators licensed by the GRA are legally in the market.
What it means for you
Practically, nothing changes about how you bet today: your account, balance, and withdrawals work as before, and M-Pesa remains the payment rail that matters. The real question is which operators come back. The GRA's fees are far steeper than the BCLB's — KES 50 million for an online bookmaker licence, a KES 5 million application fee, and proof of KES 100 million in liquid capital — a bar deliberately set high to thin out weaker operators. Sites that don't re-license must stop taking bets after 29 August 2026. If you have a balance at a smaller operator, withdrawing it before the deadline is the cautious move.
Verified Kenyan operators during the transition
These operators hold BCLB-issued FY2025/26 licences that remain valid through the transitional window:
- 1xBetverified 9 days ago
- Melbetverified 9 days ago
- Dafabetverified 9 days ago
- Betikaverified 9 days ago
- OdiBetsverified 9 days ago
- betPawaverified 9 days ago
- SportPesaverified 9 days ago
- Pepetaverified 9 days ago
- Shabikiverified 9 days ago
- Scorepesaverified 9 days ago
See the full ranked comparison for Kenya.
How we're tracking the transition
Our systems check the GRA's website every day for the first official register of GRA-licensed operators, and re-verify every licence we list against the regulator's records weekly. Each operator card on this site shows the date its licence was last verified. The moment the new register is published we re-check every Kenyan operator against it — anything that didn't make the cut disappears from our rankings the same day. We never list an operator we can't verify.
Frequently asked questions
Is online betting still legal in Kenya after the BCLB was replaced?
Yes. Betting remains legal for adults 18+ with licensed operators. The regulator changed — the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) took over from the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) on 30 June 2026 — but licences issued by the BCLB for 2025/26 remain valid through a 60-day transition ending 29 August 2026.
What is the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA)?
The GRA is Kenya's new national gambling regulator, created by the Gambling Control Act to replace the BCLB. It licenses and supervises all betting, casino, and lottery operators in Kenya, and its 2026 regulations also cover advertising rules, a gambling appeals tribunal, and a National Lottery.
Do betting sites need a new licence?
Yes. Every operator must apply to the GRA for a licence under the new act — BCLB licences are not converted automatically. Until 29 August 2026 the old licences still count; after that, only GRA-licensed operators may take bets.
Will some Kenyan betting sites disappear?
Possibly. The new fee structure is much steeper — an online bookmaker licence costs KES 50 million plus a KES 5 million application fee, and operators must show KES 100 million in liquid capital. Smaller operators may not re-license. We track the official list, so any operator that drops out stops appearing in our rankings automatically.
How do I check whether a betting site is licensed right now?
During the transition, an operator is legitimate if it held a valid BCLB licence for FY2025/26. Every operator we list is checked against the official licensed list and shows the date we last verified it. Once the GRA publishes its first register, we re-verify every operator against it.