Casino types
In the past, Kenyan gamblers relied only on the brick-and-mortar casinos which are quite few, and in the cities only. Today, more players in Kenya are gambling online. Land casinos are legal in Kenya. This is the same case for online gambling; no clear law bans online casino gambling.
All gambling activities in Kenya are controlled by the Betting Control & Licensing Board (BCLB) under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act introduced in 1966. The state was the monopoly in online casino gaming but the site, Betkenya is no longer operational. The industry is dominated by international casinos though there are some few local online casinos.
Regardless of where players are, it is imperative that they gamble on a licensed casino only. Kenya is a hotbed for corruption, and many casinos operate without proper licensing. In a recent sting, 20 Chinese nationals were nabbed operating an unlicensed casino. While their offers are very lucrative, gamblers risk a lot.
First, unlicensed online casinos cheat players. As you are aware, Random Number Generator software can be altered. Such unscrupulous dealers will manipulate the games to their favor. Besides cheating, online fraud is mostly on unlicensed operator websites. Malicious scripts are installed to fetch player data including payment details and passwords.
Real money casinos in Kenya
Kenyan gamblers can play online casinos with real money, and some sites even offer free money as part of the promotions. Deposits are via M-PESA, eWallets, Bank Wire Transfer and even cheques depending on the casino. Lately, cryptocurrency has crept to the industry, and now gamblers can deposit Bitcoins and Litecoins as well.
Kenya's gambling addiction problem is a ticking time bomb. Most casinos and sports-betting companies don't emphasize on responsible gambling leaving players vulnerable. To be on the safe side, gamblers should know when to walk away. Don't substitute school or work time with gaming. Avoid gambling when drunk and never gamble what you can't afford to lose.
Gambling in Kenya
Experts say that the online casino market is yet to be fully exploited. In 2019, more and more online gambling companies are investing in the Kenyan online gambling industry. One such investor is Victor Chandler who is in the process of bringing BetVictor to Kenya.
But there is the need for the government to enact strict regulations to curb the addiction and revenue leaks through corruption. We have seen the 20% Withholding Tax introduced, but it has not been enforced. Also, rules like self-exclusion should be adhered to strictly lest the country ends up with a generation of compulsive gamblers.
