TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia has over six years of experience in financial, business, technology, climate and health reporting, which offers deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

The government has responded to reports claiming that Kenyans spent multibillion shillings on betting.

The reports claimed that in 2024, Kenyans spent KSh 766 billion on betting and gambling.

However, according to the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), the figure is an exaggeration of the sector statistics and likely includes unlicensed offshore platforms.

"This figure is roughly equivalent to 31% of national revenue. The sensational figure inaccurately inflates the size of the regulated market, likely by including offshore (unlicensed) platforms," said BCLB chairperson Jane Mwikali in a press statement seen by TUKO.co.ke.

Mwikali noted that the report misled policymakers and the public on the true value of the betting and gambling sector in Kenya.

Currently, the gambling sector earns the country KSh 22.3 billion in tax revenue from gaming and betting excise duty on stakes and withholding tax on winnings.

In terms of employment, betting and gambling directly employ over 10,000 Kenyans and indirectly support more than 500,000 livelihoods.

The body noted that the majority of adult Kenyans have gambled at least once in their lifetime, while a substantial percentage of Kenyan youth have participated in betting and gambling activities.

Most Kenyans engaged in sports betting use smartphones, and this makes the use of online platforms predominant.

BCLB estimated tax revenue from the sector in 2025 at KSh 20 billion, drwan from excise duty, withholding tax, and betting and gaming tax.

"It reflects robust but regulated growth. These figures underscore both the popularity of licensed gambling and the critical imperative for continued strong oversight. The oversight is set to be strengthened by passing into law the Gambling Control Bill, 2023, which is in the legislative process," read the statement in part.

BCLB issued other initiatives to sensitise Kenyans on betting and gambling. It added that the initiatives are key in safeguarding the wellbeing of the gaming community in the law.

The regulator called for continued industry collaboration, legislative reform, and public education.

In 2024, the government sought to impose a 20% excise duty on every KSh 100 a punter uses to place a bet.

The state also required that betting firms should pay 15% of the gross gaming revenue, a 1% levy paid to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) per month.

However, the tax measures contained in the Finance Bill 2024 were thrown out when President William Ruto rejected the proposed law.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke