Kenya Moves to End Self-Reporting as Gambling Watchdog Seeks Live Access to Bets
Kenya's gambling regulator wants licensed betting firms, casinos and lotteries connected to a central monitoring platform that would allow authorities to view transactions as they occur.
Kenya’s gambling regulator is preparing to connect betting companies, casinos and lottery operators to a central technology platform that would allow authorities to track industry activity as it occurs.
The initiative, being advanced by the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), would give regulators direct visibility into transactions generated across licensed gambling businesses rather than relying primarily on figures submitted by operators. GRA Director-General Peter Karimi said all licensed participants in the sector would be required to integrate with the planned system.
The proposal comes as gambling revenues continue to attract increasing attention from government agencies seeking stronger oversight of a market that has expanded rapidly through mobile and online channels.
Authorities expect the platform to improve the accuracy of revenue assessments while giving regulators a clearer picture of the volume and value of betting activity taking place across the country. Officials believe direct access to operational data could reduce disputes over reporting and make enforcement decisions easier to support with verifiable records.
The government also views the project as a fiscal tool. The gambling industry generated about Sh33 billion in taxes during the 2024-25 financial year, according to the regulator. Officials expect collections to rise to around Sh40 billion this year as compliance measures and monitoring capabilities improve.
For regulators, the system’s significance extends beyond taxation. Agencies involved in financial oversight have increasingly focused on gambling platforms because of the large volume of digital transactions flowing through the sector. Access to transaction-level information would allow authorities to identify unusual activity more quickly and support investigations involving suspicious financial movements.
The planned platform is expected to operate alongside cooperation agreements involving the Communications Authority of Kenya, the Central Bank of Kenya and the Financial Reporting Centre. Regulators say that coordinated oversight could help identify unlicensed operators and disrupt payment channels linked to illegal gambling services.
Industry representatives attending the 2026 Gaming Tech Summit in Nairobi argued that stronger technology infrastructure can benefit both regulators and compliant businesses. Greater transparency, they said, may help distinguish licensed operators from illegal competitors that continue to target Kenyan consumers without meeting local regulatory requirements.
The regulator has repeatedly warned that customers using unauthorized gambling platforms face limited recourse when funds disappear or disputes arise. Authorities contend that a more comprehensive monitoring framework would strengthen consumer protection while improving accountability across the industry.
The project forms part of a broader trend in public administration toward automated compliance systems that provide regulators with direct access to operational data. Similar approaches have been adopted in tax administration, payments oversight and other sectors where governments are seeking faster visibility into commercial activity.
Implementation timelines have not yet been announced, but the authority says integration with licensed operators will be a central requirement once the monitoring framework becomes operational.
Go to TECHTRENDSKE.co.ke for more tech and business news from the African continent and across the world.
Follow us on WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to editorial@techtrendsmedia.co.ke
