Kenya is a developing nation with tons of online business opportunities owing to the huge budgetary allocation to the information technology industry. This has been a perfect era for betting and gambling enterprises across the country with the vast unemployed youth population weighing in to make a living as well. The current strict legislations by the government hoping to tap revenue from this industry has somewhat slowed international investors. This scenario didn’t exist a few years back when online betting in Kenya attracted all ages while hundreds of locally and internationally established bookies competed for a share of the market. That however does not mean there is any stopping of sports betting and casino gambling activities as local companies are still pitching lucrative and innovative products. 

bookmakers kenya

List of betting companies in Kenya 

Players are currently served by the following legal betting companies in Kenya:

  1. Betika – This is the new hub to huge jackpots with Ksh.10 Million in the grand jackpot category, and a Ksh.15M midweek jackpot. Players enjoy extra benefits in this big money program, including; ability to make multiple selections and an affordable Ksh.99 minimum stake requirement.
  2. Betway – is the best online sports betting site in the country today. They offer plenty of betting options, with thousands of markets hitting their fixture shelves each day. Betway also boasts over pretty decent odds and the advanced technology used in service delivery. 
  3. 22bet – Another popular betting website in Kenya availing up to 100% welcome bonus. 22bet Kenya matches the new player’s first deposit with up to Ksh.15000. 
  4. Melbet – new in the country, but with a solid reputation in Europe and other parts of the world. One of the few overseas bookies allowing Kenyans to have a taste of the variety enjoyed by gamblers from established online betting markets. 
  5. Helabet – great sports gambling resources with fixtures, statistics and key real-time data that will facilitate your In-play and pregame predicting. 
  6. Mozzartbet – excels in the unique live betting jackpot which is obviously easier to get right. However, there are several issues raised against Mozzart bet’s payment systems which you should lookout in our mozzartbet Kenya review 
  7. Sportpesa – Not the most popular bookie anymore, but they are doing just fine under the new label, Milestone gaming. Competitive odds, great casino content and other impressive features are accessible from sport pesa betting site. 
  8. Kwikbet – one of the high compensators who are still picking up with the competitive Kenyan betting industry. They have plenty of boosted odds, with multiple bonuses given almost freely (users don’t need to do much to land offers).
  9. Betpawa – was once a popular betting site in kenya owing to its low minimum bet amount of Ksh.1. However, their fine share of the market was squashed by the new regulations, but bet pawa still meets the standards for average bettors (embracing simplicity and small wins). 
  10. Odibets – the second best after betika owing to its involvement in the sponsoring of local sports events. Their online betting services avail a comprehensive coverage of virtual games, sports, casino Esports, and other modern markets. 
  11. Betlion – relatively new as they launched their operations in December 2018. Betlion seemed to be getting the best of players’ attention with its Ksh.350M jackpot, actually the biggest in Africa. However, local betting companies in Kenya developed creative marketing ways which pushed this company from the top. 

Other betting sites to use from Kenya 

These are UK bookies, popular due to their low tax charges, and are faring quite well in the country: 

  1. Bet365 
  2. Betfair 
  3. 888sports and casino 
  4. 1xbet 
  5. William Hill 
  6. Paddypower
  7. Landbrokes 
  8. Unibet, and 
  9. Betsafe

Top five betting sites 

Betika

Betika is the leading bookie which grew from 4.7 million users to an astonishing 18Million registered customers in 2019 alone. 

They top the list of best betting companies in Kenya thanks to several hefty compilation of attractive opportunities. 

Some of their classy and thrilling resources include: 

  1. The markets are definitely comprehensive; play the sports, casino, virtual, betika TV Games, and realize how much you have been missing 
  2. Betika promotions and bonuses make sports betting in their Shikisha bet program, jackpots, and slots worthwhile
  3. Advanced technology gives betika the edge, with convenient and reliable service delivery interfaces boosting player experience
  4. Professional support services 

There are many other positive factors that led betika to supersede the former online betting giants, sportpesa. 

Betway 

Another gem in Kenya’s betting industry whose popularity has remained unshaken. Probably their strategy involves meeting the interest of local punters while facilitating even better experience by availing a world-class coverage. Here is why betway is one of the best betting online companies in Kenya: 

  1. Decent odds in their In-play market 
  2. Trusted by players because of their licensing both locally and internationally by the UK gambling commission
  3. Their reward system provides valuable and attainable giveaways 
  4. The betway mobile app experience is exceptional 

Odibets 

Apart from their highly appreciated involvement in the promotion of the community, odibets offers decent odds. 

They also facilitate free browsing technologies and uncomplicated interfaces with high responsiveness. 

Although they feature among the top betting companies in Kenya, Odibets doesn’t perform in the promotions sector, and there is no desktop version of this bookmaker website. 

mCheza 

This Acumen Communications Limited owned brand has sustained the pressure and grown from a virtual-only fixture to cover all other popular marketing. 

mCheza rewards players with a 50% accumulator bonus which is paid in real money, meaning it’s more of a boost on your winnings. 

They are good especially for anyone hoping to use low stakes, and gain experience in playing fast markets like Esports, and Virtuals.

It is a great betting site for Kenya, but its average experience may not appeal to gurus. So, they join this list because they are legal and thus safe for locals. 

22bet

The new player bonus is the main thing qualifying 22bet to our top recommendation. It is a 100% matchup of up to Ksh1500 of the punter’s first payments. 

They also use outstanding platforms to pitch their online betting products in Kenya. These include the desktop and mobile websites, iOS app, and a n android apk. 

Finally, 22bet is a resourceful company with dedicated pages to display fixtures, statistics and results of all games included in their book. Betting in Kenya with 22bet will make your life way easier than you would ever imagine. 

Betting shops in Kenya 

For players with possible doubts against online betting in Kenya, the shops are availing the same products based on their online interfaces. We have many shops in the country and most of them are based in the capital, Nairobi. These are physical establishment where one can visit, places bets and conduct other operations in the old-school way. Let’s list some of the operational betting shops: 

  1. Best Bet shop in kawangware 
  2. 1xbet sports betting shop along Gitanga road 
  3. Paden lounge betin shop in Embakasi West 
  4. Mozzartbet shop in Westlands
  5. Michezo Chapaa shop found along Kindaruma road 
  6. Dafabet betting shop in Dagoreti 
  7. Jambo Bet shop in Kayole 
  8. Betika shop along mpaka-road, westlands 

Online betting sites and other independent agencies run these shops and Mozzartbet is the Kenyan bookie with the highest number of shops in Nairobi. We have other gambling dens in cities like Mombasa, Kisumu and many more. 

Payment options

This is the feature bringing in the clear distinction between Kenyan-owned and abroad-based companies. Local companies mostly support mobile banking mostly through Safaricom Mpesa and Airtel Money for a few. 

International betting sites on the other hand support a variety of payment methods. These include Visa, Mastercard, Ewallets like Skrill and Neteller, cryprocurrency systems and direct bank transfer, among others. 

Despite the seemly ecstatic collection, the mobile payment methods are fast, reliable and can support huge transaction amounts. Additionally, the bookies hosting these easily-accessible (mobile) banking systems will not require one to complete the lengthy verification procedures before withdrawing profits. 

Bonuses and promotions 

Incentives are used by betting websites in Kenya to attract new players or rather to motivate the existing ones to keep playing. These offers usually have different terms and conditions whose accomplishment depends on each specific bookmaker. 

The popular online betting bonuses and promos include: 

  1. Welcome reward meant to get players started 
  2. Accumulator rewards 
  3. Jackpots
  4. Tournaments 
  5. Free bets 
  6. Free spins in casino 
  7. Cashbacks 
  8. Deposit bonus, and 
  9. Offers to mark special occasions like holidays and birthdays 

Best mobile applications 

Mobile betting in Kenya is the predominant approach used when accessing resources from various firms. That’s of course justified by the many owners of smartphones as compared to the desktop users. 

Using mobile apps is of eminent benefit to punters with the following pros in subject: 

  1. Apps are fast 
  2. They are cheap to access and use 
  3. Betting sites in Kenya avail these for free 
  4. Applications are secure 
  5. Their clear layout and arrangement of features improves navigability 

Gambling laws 

Sports and casino gambling activities were legalized in Kenya over six decades ago. The Lotteries and Gaming act has been reviewed severally with the most recent changes happening in 2019. Current laws are crafted to protect players, and also ensure that the country benefits from the millions collected by betting companies every year. 

The level of awareness has increased, as authorities encourage Kenyans to play on licensed platforms only. However, the tax rates are too high, a fact which hasn’t prevented professional gamblers from going on with their daily operations. 

Conclusion 

This betting websites in Kenya review analysed and identified some of the top brands, whose legality, market and promotion variety, banking safety and other basic features aren’t questionable. The recommended platforms have a capacity to serve with the best interest of Kenyan punters in mind and most of them are locally owned. Nonetheless, whether on an international or local betting site in Kenya, there is no need to worry since they all abide by the rules which guarantee your safety.