Despite recent legislative reforms, Kenya’s leadership signals stricter oversight of betting and iGaming amid concerns over social harm, mental health and rapid market growth
Kenya’s President William Ruto has adopted a firm stance on gambling, placing the industry alongside drugs and alcohol as key social challenges facing the country. Speaking during a public address in Moiben Constituency, Ruto underscored the government’s concern about the financial and psychological impact of gambling on citizens and confirmed that additional regulations are being drafted to strengthen oversight of the sector.
In his remarks, the president pointed to the scale of gambling participation as a national issue, warning that unchecked growth is contributing to depression and financial distress among millions of Kenyans. “We are creating regulations for gambling because many people are depressed. Five million people are a very large number. It cannot be allowed to continue everywhere. We cannot continue like that as a nation,” Ruto said. His comments signal a clear political intention to tighten controls, even as the gambling sector continues to expand rapidly.
While Ruto’s comments focused heavily on gambling, his speech also addressed broader social issues, including illegal drugs and alcohol. He pledged harsher penalties for those involved in illicit drug sales, including the introduction of the death penalty, reflecting a wider law-and-order narrative that places gambling within a broader framework of social risk.
The president’s position comes despite Kenya having recently modernised its gambling legislation. In 2025, parliament passed a new Gambling Control Act, replacing a regulatory framework that dated back to the 1960s. The updated law covers betting, casinos and lotteries, and was designed to provide clearer technical guidelines for operators while reducing gambling-related harm.
As part of the reforms, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya was established, replacing the Betting Control and Licensing Board as the country’s primary gaming regulator. The new authority is tasked with licensing, enforcement and consumer protection, marking a significant institutional shift in how the sector is governed.
Advertising restrictions have also been tightened under the revised framework. Since June, operators have been prohibited from using celebrities, influencers or content creators to promote gambling. Marketing materials must avoid portraying betting as a source of income or using call-to-action language, and are required to display responsible gambling messages alongside age warnings stating that participation is restricted to those over 18.
Despite these controls, Kenya’s gambling market continues to grow, driven largely by rapid mobile penetration and increasing access to digital services. Research from GeoPoll indicates that Kenya leads Africa in gambling participation, with over 82% of respondents reporting engagement with gambling products. This surge is closely linked to the widespread adoption of smartphones and mobile internet.
Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya shows that mobile data subscriptions reached 60.2 million by the end of September 2025, exceeding the country’s population of just over 57 million. This connectivity has fueled the rise of iGaming and mobile betting platforms, making gambling more accessible than ever.
Industry executives have previously highlighted these trends as key growth drivers. Christopher Coyne, co-founder and CEO of 888 Africa, has noted that improved access to mobile technology and gradual increases in disposable income have underpinned the sector’s expansion across the continent.
Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Kenya’s gambling industry. As regulators continue to implement the new Gambling Control Act, President Ruto’s call for even stricter oversight suggests that further policy adjustments may be on the horizon. The challenge for policymakers will be balancing social protection objectives with the economic contributions of a fast-growing, digitally driven industry.
