Kenya has launched a centralized gambling monitoring platform that gives regulators real-time access to betting transactions across all licensed operators. This marks a major shift in the country’s approach to gaming oversight and tax compliance.
The initiative comes as gambling tax collections continue to rise, reaching approximately KES 28.45 billion by April 2026. This compares to KES 25.24 billion during the same period a year earlier. Authorities now expect annual collections to approach KES 40 billion. This is driven by stronger compliance measures and enhanced regulatory oversight.
Central Platform Expands Regulatory Visibility
Developed under the Gambling Control Act, the new monitoring system requires all licensed gambling operators to integrate directly with the platform. The requirement applies to online sportsbooks, casinos, lotteries, and land-based gaming establishments operating in Kenya.
Speaking at the 2026 Gaming Tech Summit in Nairobi, Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) Director General Peter Karimi said the platform will provide regulators with direct visibility into every gambling transaction conducted by licensed operators.
“Every single participant will integrate into the central monitoring system, and the regulator will have sight of every transaction that happens in a gambling operation in Kenya.”
The system enables real-time tracking of bets, payouts, player activity, and operator revenues. In addition, it helps authorities identify suspicious transactions and monitor compliance more effectively.
Moving Beyond Traditional Audits
The platform represents a significant departure from Kenya’s previous oversight model. The older model relied heavily on data submitted by operators through periodic reporting and audits.
Under the former system, regulators reviewed monthly or quarterly reports and conducted compliance inspections after transactions had already taken place. This approach created opportunities for reporting discrepancies and delayed the identification of potential violations.
By contrast, the new monitoring framework provides regulators with direct access to transaction data as activity occurs. Instead of relying solely on operator declarations, authorities can independently verify revenue streams, betting volumes, and financial flows in real time.
The system also allows the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to monitor sector activity more accurately. This reduces the risk of underreporting and improves tax collection efficiency.
Supporting Revenue Growth and Market Integrity
The GRA believes the technology will strengthen transparency across the gambling sector. It will also help licensed operators compete in a more accountable market environment.
According to officials, gambling generated approximately KES 33 billion in tax revenue during the 2024-25 financial year. With improved monitoring capabilities now in place, regulators expect collections to rise further while gaining greater certainty in revenue forecasting.
Industry stakeholders have also indicated that enhanced oversight could help reduce revenue leakages linked to underreporting and illegal gambling operations.
New Regulatory Framework Drives Reform
The rollout follows the introduction of the Gambling Control Act 2025, which replaced Kenya’s previous Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act framework. It also established the Gambling Regulatory Authority as the country’s primary gaming regulator.
The legislation reflects Kenya’s broader effort to modernize gambling regulation as online betting activity continues to expand.
Proposed Gambling Control Regulations for 2026 introduce stricter requirements around transaction monitoring, reporting accuracy, licensing compliance, and digital gambling oversight. Operators will also be required to provide information relating to platform infrastructure, server locations, and system connectivity.
Greater Focus on Online Gambling Compliance
Online gambling operators face particularly stringent requirements under the new framework.
The Act requires licensed operators to maintain approved control systems covering cybersecurity, payment processing, age verification, responsible gambling measures, anti-money laundering controls, advertising standards, and data protection protocols.
The implementation of real-time monitoring aligns with these broader regulatory reforms. This gives authorities greater visibility into online gambling activity while strengthening supervision of an increasingly digital gaming market.
As Kenya continues to modernize its gambling sector, the introduction of continuous transaction monitoring signals a shift from periodic compliance reviews to real-time regulatory oversight. This provides authorities with greater control over tax collection, consumer protection, and market integrity.
