Kenya’s betting industry is predominant with low-stake gambling but also a small group of high-stake bettors ready to spend over KSh 65,000 in a month, a new survey by Geopoll reveals.
- •Majority (57%) reported spending less than $10 per month while higher spending brackets included: 28% between $10 and $25, 3% between $25 and $50, 6% between $50 and $100, 3% between $100 and $500, and 3% spending over $500 monthly.
- •Kenya, previously the consistent frontrunner, dropped to third place with 79%, after South Africa and Uganda as the leading betting hotspots in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- •Football remains the most popular form of betting in Africa, with 61% of respondents in the 2025 survey stating they mainly bet on football matches—continuing the trend observed in 2024.
In 2022, Kenya led the continent with 83.9% of respondents reporting they had tried gambling or betting, followed by Nigeria at 78% and South Africa at 74%. The 2024 study reaffirmed Kenya’s lead, with 82.8% of respondents indicating they had placed a bet, while South Africa (73.9%), Ghana (73%), Uganda (71.4%), Tanzania (71.1%), and Nigeria (65.3%) followed closely behind.
“Among those who reported having ever placed a bet, we explored how frequently they engage in gambling activities. In the 2024 survey, 32% of respondents indicated they bet approximately once a week. Additionally, 20.8% placed bets once a month, 17.8% bet at least once a day, and 15.6% reported betting more than once a day,” Geopoll says in its Betting in Africa 2025 Survey.
“The 2025 findings show a slight increase in weekly betting, with 35% of respondents now gambling once a week. 22% reported betting once a month, while 20% do so less than once a month. Daily betting has seen a modest decline, with 14% betting once a day and 9% placing bets more than once a day,” the report added.
Aviator, a fast-paced digital game, has quickly risen in popularity, with 19% choosing it as their primary betting option. Basketball follows distantly, preferred by 6% of respondents.
