Kenya’s betting market got a new referee and a bigger tax bill for winners in the same twelve months. If the last guide you read about betting with M-Pesa in Kenya still mentions the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) as the regulator or a flat 5% deduction on withdrawals as the only tax you’ll pay, it’s already out of date. This guide covers how to bet with M-Pesa in Kenya 2026 on the three platforms most Kenyan punters actually use — Betika, SportPesa and OdiBets — including the paybill numbers, deposit and withdrawal steps, and the two regulatory shifts that change what lands in your M-Pesa wallet.
What Changed in Kenya’s Betting Rules Before You Deposit a Single Shilling
Two separate changes matter here, and confusing them is the most common mistake bettors make right now.
The first is institutional. The Gambling Control Act, 2025 replaced the old Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act and created the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) to take over from the BCLB, which had governed Kenyan gambling since 1966. The BCLB issued a formal transition notice in October 2025, and the handover to the GRA was completed by the end of February 2026, with President Ruto appointing Joseph Kirui Limo as the GRA’s non-executive chairperson. According to Bowmans, the Act also introduced a blanket ban on celebrity and influencer endorsements of gambling advertising and tightened advert placement and timing rules — a sharp break from the celebrity-driven betting ads that dominated Kenyan media for years.
The second change is financial, and it directly affects your payout. The Finance Act, 2026, signed into law on 23 June 2026, reinstated a 20% withholding tax on betting winnings for both residents and non-residents — a tax that had been repealed the previous year. This provision took effect on 1 July 2026, so it is already being applied to payouts today. Per analysis from Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, the 20% tax on winnings is layered on top of the existing 5% withholding tax on withdrawals, rather than replacing it, and the definition of a taxable “withdrawal” was also widened to the point money is credited to your account, not just when you cash it out — closing a loophole where players kept re-betting winnings to defer tax.
The GRA itself pushed back on the reversal, pointing out in an April 2026 industry tax analysis that betting tax collections had already risen 11% to roughly KSh 28.45 billion (about $220 million) in the ten months to April 2026, compared with KSh 25.24 billion (about $195 million) the previous year, under the lighter deposit/withdrawal-based system. Lawmakers passed the higher rate anyway.
Quick Overview: How to Bet with M-Pesa in Kenya
The mechanics are the same across every licensed Kenyan bookmaker — only the paybill number and account format change. Here’s the general flow before the operator-specific steps below.
- Register and verify your account with the bookmaker (Betika, SportPesa or OdiBets) using your Safaricom-registered phone number.
- Open the M-Pesa menu on your phone, select Lipa na M-Pesa, then Pay Bill.
- Enter the operator’s paybill number and the account reference (usually your registered phone number, or the word “BETIKA” for Betika).
- Enter the deposit amount and your M-Pesa PIN, then confirm — funds typically land in your betting wallet within minutes.
- Place your bet, then request a withdrawal from the bookmaker’s app or website once you’re ready to cash out back to M-Pesa.
Step-by-Step: Depositing to Betika via M-Pesa (Paybill 290290)
- Dial the M-Pesa menu and select Lipa na M-Pesa > Pay Bill.
- Enter Business Number 290290.
- For the account number, enter “BETIKA” or your Betika-registered phone number.
- Enter the amount — typical minimums sit between KSh 10 and KSh 50 depending on your account tier, with a per-transaction maximum around KSh 70,000.
- Enter your M-Pesa PIN and confirm. You’ll receive an SMS confirmation from both M-Pesa and Betika once the deposit clears.
Withdrawing from Betika to M-Pesa
Open the Betika app or site, go to your wallet, and request a withdrawal of at least KSh 200. Betika processes most withdrawals to M-Pesa within 5 to 30 minutes during business hours. Remember: the payout you receive now reflects both the 5% withholding tax on withdrawals and, since 1 July 2026, the 20% withholding tax on winnings deducted before disbursement — so the amount that hits your M-Pesa may be noticeably lower than the balance shown in your betting wallet.
Step-by-Step: Depositing to SportPesa via M-Pesa (Paybill 955100)
- Select Lipa na M-Pesa > Pay Bill on your phone.
- Enter Business Number 955100.
- Enter your registered SportPesa phone number as the account number.
- Enter the deposit amount, your PIN, and confirm.
SportPesa’s minimum withdrawal is KSh 200. If you want to raise a self-imposed deposit limit under the platform’s Responsible Gaming settings — a feature the Gambling Control Act now requires operators to offer prominently — expect a mandatory 24 to 72-hour cooling-off period before the higher limit applies.
Step-by-Step: Depositing to OdiBets via M-Pesa (Paybill 290680)
- Select Lipa na M-Pesa > Pay Bill.
- Enter Business Number 290680.
- Enter your registered Safaricom phone number as the account reference.
- Enter the amount — OdiBets accepts deposits from as little as KSh 1 — your PIN, and confirm.
Minimum withdrawal on OdiBets is KSh 100. Deposits carry a 5% excise deduction before funds reach your wallet, so a KSh 100 deposit lands as roughly KSh 95 in your betting balance; the same 5% applies on the withdrawal side, on top of which the 20% winnings tax now applies where relevant.
M-Pesa Deposit and Withdrawal Limits Compared
| Bookmaker | Paybill | Min. Deposit | Min. Withdrawal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betika | 290290 | ~KSh 10–50 | KSh 200 | Max ~KSh 70,000 per deposit |
| SportPesa | 955100 | Varies | KSh 200 | Deposit limits require 24–72h to raise |
| OdiBets | 290680 | KSh 1 | KSh 100 | 5% excise on both deposits and withdrawals |
Whichever bookmaker you use, remember M-Pesa itself caps you at KSh 250,000 per single transaction and KSh 500,000 in total transaction value per day, with a maximum wallet balance of KSh 500,000 — so high-stakes bettors moving large sums may need to split transfers across the day.
How the New 20% Winnings Tax Affects Your Payout
Before 1 July 2026, most Kenyan bettors only saw a 5% deduction when they withdrew funds. Since the Finance Act 2026 came into force, licensed operators now withhold 20% on winnings — defined as a payout from a licensed lottery, betting or prize competition, excluding your original stake — in addition to the existing 5% on withdrawals. In practice this means the tax point has moved earlier: it’s triggered when winnings are credited or disbursed to your account, not only when you physically cash out to M-Pesa. If your withdrawal confirmation shows a much smaller amount than expected, this layered deduction — not a platform error — is almost always the reason.
Avoiding Fake Paybill Scams When You Bet with M-Pesa
- Always check the confirmation name shown by M-Pesa after entering the paybill number — it should display the operator’s official registered business name before you enter your PIN.
- Never trust paybill numbers shared in social media comments or unsolicited messages; use the number listed on the bookmaker’s official app or website.
- Report suspicious paybill prompts to Safaricom and to the bookmaker’s official support channel before sending any money.
More Mobile Money Betting Guides
M-Pesa isn’t the only mobile money rail powering betting across the continent. If you also bet across borders or want to compare how other markets handle mobile deposits, check our guides on how to bet with EcoCash in Zimbabwe, how to bet with MTN Mobile Money in Uganda, and how to bet with Airtel Money in Zambia.
Kenya’s betting landscape in 2026 isn’t just about which bookmaker has the best odds — it’s about understanding what the GRA now requires and what the taxman now takes before your winnings ever reach your phone. Depositing via M-Pesa remains fast and simple on Betika, SportPesa and OdiBets; just budget for the combined tax bite on the way out.
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.
