Get a bookmaker's (sports betting) licence from GRA
Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Apply to the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) as a company that is at least 30% Kenyan-owned: Form 2 for a land-based bookmaker or Form 8 for online, with the application fee (KSh 2.5 million land-based, KSh 5 million online) and proof of gambling capital. GRA must decide within 30 days, and on approval you pay the licence fee and deposit a security bond.
- Fee
- KSh 2,500,000Land-based bookmaker: application feeKSh 5,000,000Land-based bookmaker: licence feeKSh 5,000,000Online bookmaker: application feeKSh 50,000,000Online bookmaker: licence fee
- How long
- GRA must consider applications within 30 days
- Where
- Gambling Regulatory Authority, ACK Gardens Annex, Bishop Road, 1st Ngong Avenue, Nairobi; GRA operator portal (operator.gra.go.ke)
What you need
- Application in Form 2 (land-based bookmaker) or Form 8 (online bookmaker)
- Valid KRA Tax Compliance Certificate and PIN certificate
- Names and addresses of your odds and platform providers and copies of your agreements with them
- Your proposed sports events and bet types, terms and conditions, internal dispute resolution process and premises location
- Proof of gambling capital: KSh 50 million (land-based) or KSh 100 million (online)
- Online: proof of anti-money laundering compliance (policies, procedures, staff training records)
Steps
- Prepare your application in Form 2 (land-based) or Form 8 (online) with all the documents and the application fee.
- GRA reviews your application and notifies you within 14 days of receiving it. A Board committee then approves or refuses it.
- GRA inspects your premises and systems (security, information systems, internal controls).
- Once approved, pay the licence fee and deposit the required security bond or bank guarantee. GRA then issues your licence.
Watch out
- On top of fees, you must deposit security: KSh 100 million for online gambling, or KSh 20 million for non-online bookmakers.
- A land-based bookmaking licence lasts 3 years, but an online gambling licence lasts only 1 year.
- Running betting without a valid licence is an offence with a fine of up to KSh 10 million or up to 10 years in jail.
Who can apply
- A company (body corporate) in which Kenyan citizens hold at least 30% of the shares.
- The company must keep an account with a bank registered in Kenya for all gambling money.
Official sources (3)
- The Gambling Control (Licensing) Regulations, 2026 (L.N. 111) gra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Gambling Control Act, 2025 (No. 14 of 2025) gra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Online Services gra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026