While the two most successful gambling industries in Africa are Nigeria and South Africa, Kenya is also at the top, alongside Ghana and Morocco. Industry experts have compared different markets in Africa and estimated that over 80% of the gambling activities on the continent take place in South African land-based and online casinos.
Gambling, including different casino games, is also widespread in Kenya, and the best casino sites in Kenya have no shortage of slots, classic tables, and live casino games. Like in South Africa, there are many casinos in Kenya, while sports betting is equally popular, especially among football fans. According to most recent reports on the Kenyan online gambling industry, its yearly growth rate is around 7%. The growth rate should increase as more Kenyan casinos open their doors.
Everything You Need to Know About the Best Online Casinos in Kenya
To understand the gambling industry in Kenya and how venues operate, we need to briefly examine Kenyan gambling laws and regulations. In Kenya, gambling is not only perfectly legal but also has a long and rich history. Kenya was one of the first African countries to introduce gambling-friendly laws and regulations.
The Kenyan government introduced the main piece of legislation that legalized online casino gamesand other forms of games of chance over six decades ago. The main component of the gambling legislation is the Betting, Lotteries, and Gaming Act which has been in power since 1966. Even though the Betting, Lotteries, and Gaming Act do not mention online casinos, gaming venues operate legally in the country.
If you are interested in learning more about online casinos, the best ones operating in Kenya can be found on the linked page. Back to the main piece of gambling legislation. According to the Betting, Lotteries, and Gaming Act of 1966:
- Kenyan residents who are at least eighteen years old can engage in gambling activities
- The sale of lottery tickets is strictly forbidden to individuals under the age of sixteen
- Individuals under the age of eighteen cannot participate in gambling events
- All forms of gambling activities are monitored by the Betting Control and Licensing Board
- Casino games, poker, bingo, lotteries, social gaming, and skill games are legal
The Betting, Lotteries, and Gaming Act also details other laws and regulations that the Kenyan gambling industry must comply with. While online gambling is technically monopolized in the country, the Kenyan government does not block sites that are owned and operated by foreign companies. Essentially, all of the best online casinos catering to Kenyan players are operated by foreign companies, and Kenyan players face no legal or other consequences for joining and playing at those sites.
What About Playing Casino Games in Kenya at Land-Based Gambling Venues?
When it comes to land-based gambling activities in Kenya, they have been legal and regulated since 1966, when the Betting, Lotteries, and Gaming Act was introduced. Today, the Kenyan casino land-based industry has many renowned establishments, including:
- Rocco Casino Mombasa
- Malindi Casino
- Leisure Lodge Casino Mombasa
- Mayfair Casino Nairobi and Hotel Intercontinental
- Nyali International Mombasa
- Golden Key Casino
- The Continental Resort
- Bollywood Casino
- Safari Park Hotel and Country Club
- Diani Reef Beach Resort and Spa
- Finix Casino
Most of these venues house quite a few different casino games, including hundreds of slot machines, blackjack, and roulette games, as well as high-stake poker games and more. The Safari Park Hotel and Country Club have one of the best selections of table games. The venue’s gaming room is also loaded with slots, while sports bettors are also catered to. The venue is also famous for frequent music shows.
The Nyali International Mombasa is situated in one of the most picturesque areas of Kenya. Aside from luxurious suites and rooms, the complex has five restaurants, several lounges, a gym, and a spa. The gaming floor is packed with all sorts of casino games to satisfy the appetite of all customers. Foreigners and locals who enjoy gambling also visit the Rocco Casino Mombasa, located within a massive casino and hotel complex.
The gaming floor is packed with quite a few variations of poker, as well as craps, pontoon, Punto Banco, and blackjack. What also makes Rocco Casino Mombasa special is the venue’s architecture which perfectly captures the essence of Kenyan rich culture and tradition. The Malindi Casino, Mayfair Casino Nairobi and Hotel Intercontinental, and Leisure Lodge Casino Mombasa are no less impressive with their spectacular gaming rooms and other amenities.
What the Future Holds for the Kenyan Casino and Gambling Industry?
According to an official report published by the Kenyan gambling regulator in March of 2022, the Kenyan betting and lottery industry was valued at over US$40 million. According to another report from 2017, the Kenyan game of chance industry generated gross revenues of around US$440 million. During the same twelve-month period, the Kenyan Revenue Authority collected around US$33 million from a 7.5% gambling tax.
Speaking of taxes, the Kenyan government decided to boost the growth of the country’s gambling industry further by lowering taxes on gross revenues back in 2021. More specifically, the gross revenue tax rate decreased from a massive 20% to 7.5%. The revised taxation level will greatly benefit not only the casino and other gambling operators but also Kenyanplayers, who now keep a bigger portion of their winnings.
The revised taxation system also presents greater opportunities for foreign casino and betting operators that want to offer their services ad products to Kenyan players. The Kenyan online casino and land-based gambling industry expect to generate significantly higher gross gaming revenues in the years to come.
The growth of the Kenyan gambling industry is not only positively affected by the revised taxation system but also by the greater societal acceptance of gambling activities as a form of recreation. Several other factors are also positively influencing the increasing popularity of Kenyan online casinos, including the promise of bigger economic benefits and tax revenues.
In addition, the country’s current gambling regulatory framework also expects to positively impact the growth of the industry in the years to come. With this being said, it is evident that the future looks bright for the Kenyan gambling market.
