How developed is the gambling industry in Kenya?

Kenya was one of the first African countries to legalize gambling activities, and the nation has a long history of engaging in different casino games. The industry developed significantly over the decades, and with the development of new technologies, it expanded into the online sector, too. Today Kenyans can enjoy a variety of digital wagering options they can access freely from any of their mobile devices.

History

Gambling has been legal in Kenya since 1996 when the Betting Lotteries and Gaming Act was introduced, but the law allows only local operators to provide services to the country’s residents. In 2011, the Betting Control and Licensing Board started regulating online gambling, and although the law does not allow the use of international websites, the government hasn’t imposed any real restrictions. The land-based establishments are loved both by the locals and the tourists, and the country is home to 28 casinos, three bookmakers, and 11 bingo halls. 

Market

The value of the wagering market in the country stands at $40 million, and the revenue is expected to grow even more in years to come. A total of 57% of the population has engaged in some form of wagering in the past, and 47% of them only do it once a month or less, while 10% place bets at least once a day. Kenya is currently one of the top three gambling markets in Africa, slowly catching up with the continent’s industry leaders such as South Africa or Nigeria. In South Africa, for example, people can find amazing no deposit online casinos, and according to Playcasino.co.za, players love getting no deposit bonus gifts since they let them play for real cash without spending any money of their own. Today, Kenyan players too can enjoy a large variety of bonus rewards such as no deposit and deposit bonuses, free spins, and many others. 

Technology

The growth of Kenya’s gambling industry is largely affected by the country’s extremely high internet penetration rate which stands at 85.2% as of 2021. There were around 60 million mobile connections in the country in 2021, which is 11% higher than in 2020. The increased availability of mobile phones is another important factor that boosted the growth of the industry, especially the online sector. Online gambling skyrocketed once the majority of the nation got access to smartphones. Nowadays, 64% of smartphone owners in Kenya engage in online wagering, and mobile apps have proven to be the largest medium for this sort of entertainment. Since 88% of the country’s punters use their phones to wager, we can say that playing games of chance on mobile is the most frequent form in Kenya.

Casinos

Since Kenya was one of the first countries on the continent to legalize gambling, online wagering easily found its way to the homes of many Kenyans, and digital gambling has had a positive effect on the country’s economy. Kenya is one of the rare countries in the world where young people account for a large chunk of the population, and it is no surprise that the nation easily embraced the emergence of new forms of wagering. Being young, the players love gaming on the move and they appreciate the convenience of digital operators they can access at any time, from any device, wherever they are. The variety of local payment options is another reason why Kenyans love wagering online since it simplifies the process of making deposits and withdrawals. Each online establishment also offers a long list of games such as craps, scratch cards, table games, and many others, and some of the titles are actually unavailable at land-based venues. 

Popular games

Kenyans love many types of casino games, but slots seem to stand out among the others. The reason behind their popularity lies in the simplicity of the game since slots do not require any knowledge or tactics in order to be fun and rewarding. Each player can just sit back and enjoy their favorite game of chance, and if they make use of a casino bonus or two, the experience gets even better. Slots can also be played with low stakes, and many titles available in online casinos offer progressive jackpot rewards that bring large profits even with smaller bets. Another popular category is sports betting. The majority of Kenyans are passionate about sports, especially football, and they enjoy trying their luck by betting on teams from their favorite leagues such as the Premier League and others.

Gambling has come a long way in Kenya, making its roots back in 1966. Since then, the market has grown significantly, thanks to the increased availability of the internet and significant mobile penetration in the country which allowed the nation to enter the exciting world of online wagering.