Kenya remains one of the most competitive betting markets in East Africa, and sorting through the dozens of brands chasing local punters can take a while. According to NEXT.io, more than 100 companies hold online betting licences in Kenya for the 2025/26 financial year, yet only around 30 of them are meaningfully active across sports betting, lotteries and digital casino products. This guide to the best betting sites in Kenya narrows that field down to seven operators that are genuinely accessible to local punters, with licence status, Mobile Money (M-Pesa) support, app availability and minimum deposit checked for each one.
Kenya’s regulatory landscape also shifted in the past year. The Gambling Control Act, 2025 replaced the long-standing Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) with a new regulator, the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), and Kenya’s 2026 gambling licensing regulations set out current licence fees and renewal rules for bookmakers operating locally. Every operator below is checked against this GRA framework — this article covers licence status only (licensed yes/no, and which authority), not a full tax or compliance breakdown.
Best Betting Sites in Kenya 2026: Quick Comparison
| Bookmaker | Licensed (GRA, ex-BCLB) | M-Pesa | App | Min. deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betika | Yes | Yes | Android (APK) | KES 50 |
| SportyBet | Yes | Yes | Android & iOS | KES 100 |
| Betway | Yes | Yes | Android & iOS | KES 10 |
| betPawa | Yes | Yes | Android only | KES 1 |
| Odibets | Yes | Yes | Android (lightweight) | Not confirmed* |
| 22Bet | Yes | Yes | Android & iOS | KES 10 |
| Premier Bet | Stated by operator** | Yes | Android (APK) | Not confirmed* |
*Published minimum deposit figures varied too widely across sources to confirm a single reliable number at the time of writing. **We could not locate a specific GRA bookmaker/gaming licence number for Premier Bet’s Kenyan operation in the public register; the platform itself states it is licensed to operate locally.
1. Betika — Kenya’s Most Visited Betting Site
Betika is run by Shop and Deliver Limited and holds bookmaker licence BK-0001117 and public gaming licence PG-0001113 under Kenya’s Gambling Regulatory Authority, the body that replaced the BCLB. The brand has operated locally since 2016 and is routinely cited as the country’s most-used sportsbook.
- Licensed: Yes — GRA (formerly BCLB)
- M-Pesa: Yes, via Paybill 290290
- App: Android app available for direct APK download
- Minimum deposit: KES 50 via M-Pesa
See our full Betika review for odds coverage and jackpot details beyond the scope of this comparison.
2. SportyBet — Built for Light, Fast Mobile Data
SportyBet in Kenya is operated by Dreamhub Technology Limited under bookmaker licence BK-0001203 and gaming licence PG-0001202, within the same GRA framework. Its mobile app is frequently flagged as one of the lightest on local networks, which matters on slower mobile data connections outside Nairobi.
- Licensed: Yes — GRA (formerly BCLB)
- M-Pesa: Yes, instant and fee-free via Paybill 202202
- App: Android 7.0+ and iOS
- Minimum deposit: KES 100 via M-Pesa
Full detail is in our SportyBet review.
3. Betway — Long-Standing International Brand
Betway’s Kenyan operation is run by Bluejay Limited, licensed under number 0000432 within the GRA framework. It’s one of the longer-established international brands in the market, combining sports betting with a casino section.
- Licensed: Yes — GRA (formerly BCLB)
- M-Pesa: Yes, instant, no fee, via Paybill 880185
- App: Android and iOS
- Minimum deposit: KES 10 via M-Pesa
Our Betway review covers its casino and virtuals offering in more depth.
4. betPawa — Lowest Minimum Deposit in the Market
betPawa is operated locally by Nanovas International (K) Ltd under bookmaker licence BK-0001070 and gaming licence PG-0001071. Its whole positioning rests on tiny stake and deposit thresholds rather than big welcome offers.
- Licensed: Yes — GRA (formerly BCLB)
- M-Pesa: Yes, the only deposit method, exclusively via Paybill 290020
- App: Android only — there is no iOS app, though the mobile site works on iPhone browsers
- Minimum deposit: KES 1 via M-Pesa, among the lowest of any licensed Kenyan operator
More on its stake limits and markets in our betPawa review.
5. Odibets — Low-Stakes Specialist
Odibets is operated by Kareco Holdings Limited, holding bookmaker licence BK-0001095, public gaming licence PG-0001096 and public lottery licence PL-0001097 under the GRA. The brand is known for a notably lightweight Android app, reported at around 2.8 MB.
- Licensed: Yes — GRA (formerly BCLB)
- M-Pesa: Yes, the exclusive deposit and withdrawal method, via Paybill 290680
- App: Android (lightweight build), no confirmed iOS app
- Minimum deposit: advertised as very low, but published figures have varied across the operator’s own updates — we’re not stating a specific amount here until it’s consistently confirmed
6. 22Bet — International Platform, Local Payment Rails
22Bet’s Kenyan entity is Nuntis Holdings Limited, appearing on the GRA’s licensed-operator records with bookmaker licence BK-0001293 and gaming licence PG-0001294, alongside the brand’s separate Curaçao licence for its international operations.
- Licensed: Yes — GRA (formerly BCLB), plus a separate international Curaçao licence
- M-Pesa: Yes, via Paybill 895599
- App: Android and iOS
- Minimum deposit: KES 10 via M-Pesa
7. Premier Bet — Pan-African Brand Operating Locally
Premier Bet runs a Kenyan-facing platform with local servers and M-Pesa integration, and the app’s own footer states it is licensed and regulated in Kenya. We were not able to match a specific GRA bookmaker or gaming licence number to the Kenyan entity in the public register at the time of writing — worth confirming directly on the GRA site before relying on this operator.
- Licensed: Stated by the operator; specific GRA licence number not independently confirmed
- M-Pesa: Yes, instant deposits reported
- App: Dedicated Android app (APK), built for low-data use
- Minimum deposit: figures ranged too widely across sources to confirm a single reliable amount
More on its markets and casino section in our Premier Bet review.
How We Checked These Details
Licence numbers, Mobile Money support and app availability were cross-checked against each operator’s own app/site information and, where possible, the GRA’s public licensed-operator records. Where sources disagreed meaningfully on a specific figure — as with Odibets’ and Premier Bet’s minimum deposits — we’ve said so rather than publishing a number we couldn’t stand behind. Our full process is on the Review Methodology page.
Related Guides
For the football context driving betting interest in the region, see our AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Betting Odds: Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania Guide. If you’re also comparing markets across the border, our licensed betting sites guide for Tanzania covers a similar GRA-style licensing shortlist for that market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online betting legal in Kenya?
Yes. Betting is legal when the operator holds a valid licence from Kenya’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), which replaced the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) under the Gambling Control Act, 2025. All seven operators compared above either hold or claim a licence under this framework, though we flagged above where a specific licence number couldn’t be independently confirmed.
Which Kenyan betting sites support M-Pesa?
All seven operators in this guide — Betika, SportyBet, Betway, betPawa, Odibets, 22Bet and Premier Bet — support M-Pesa deposits, usually via a dedicated Paybill number. betPawa and Odibets rely on M-Pesa exclusively, with no bank transfer option.
Do I need to download an app to bet in Kenya?
No — every operator above also works through a mobile browser. An app simply tends to load faster and use less data, which is why most Kenyan bookmakers, including SportyBet and 22Bet, publish both Android and iOS apps, while betPawa and Odibets currently offer Android only.
Which betting site has the lowest minimum deposit in Kenya?
Based on the figures we could confirm, betPawa has the lowest minimum deposit at KES 1 via M-Pesa, followed by Betway and 22Bet at KES 10. Betika sits at KES 50 and SportyBet at KES 100.
Thabo Ndlovu is a passionate sports analyst with extensive knowledge of African football, sports betting trends, and online bookmakers. He covers major leagues, betting tips, match predictions, and responsible betting for sports fans across Africa.
