By Grace Gilo
President William Ruto has assented to the Gambling Control Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 70 of 2023), officially enacting a modern legal framework for the regulation of gambling in Kenya.
“Gambling has taken a worrying trend, especially among our young people, posing a serious threat to our social fabric,” stated the Head of State.
To ensure that it does not become a menace to the society, we have taken a comprehensive approach that strikes a balance between the cost and benefits of gambling,” he added.
The Bill now Act is sponsored by the Leader of the Majority Party and Member for Kikuyu Constituency, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah.
In the National Assembly it was passed with amendments on 6th December 2023 and passed with amendments in the Senate on 8th October 2024. The National Assembly, however, rejected the Senate’s amendments on 16th January 2025.
“A Mediation Committee appointed by the Speakers of the Houses of Parliament and Senate reached an agreement on a mediated version of the Bill, which was subsequently approved by the Senate on 23rd July 2025 and by the National Assembly on 31st July 2025,” read the statement from the National Assembly in part.
The principal object of the Bill is to establish a comprehensive legal framework for the regulation of gambling in Kenya, with emphasis on safe gambling principles.
It seeks to regulate betting, casinos and other forms of gambling, as well as the authorization of prize competitions, public lotteries, and media promotions.
The Bill establishes the Gambling Regulatory Authority, tasked with licensing and regulating the gambling sector.
The Authority will be managed by a Board mandated to develop standards and norms for betting, lotteries and casinos, regulate and control gambling activities, issue licenses for gambling activities, monitor socio-economic patterns of gambling and advise county governments on gambling regulation The Gambling Regulatory Authority will now mandated to collaborate with the Kenya Revenue Authority to establish a monitoring system for tax compliance.
The Act repeals the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap. 131, but preserves the tax-related provisions.
The provisions on betting tax, lottery tax, gaming tax and prize competition tax shall continue to apply until new tax laws are enacted, ensuring no legislative gap.
Further, the Bill seeks to provide a revenue-generation avenue for the government.
“Notably, 15% of gross gambling revenue is remitted to the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund to promote culture, sports, and social development,” read the statement from Parliament.
To mitigate the harms of gambling, the Bill introduces provisions such as public sensitisation, self-exclusion for addicts, strict licensing requirements, advertising restrictions, and a ban on gambling by minors.