Kenya: Concern as Illegal Gambling Machines Make a Return to Meru - allAfrica.com

1xBet Kenya Casino

1xBet is among the all-rounded online gaming sites where you can bet on sports and play online casino games. The online casino and live casino games are accessible on instant play and through the downloadable 1xbet mobile casino app.

The games list at 1xbet Kenya features hundreds of slots such as Diamond Hunt, Will of the Gods, and Book of Santa. There are also exclusive slots such as Nights of Egypt and Book of Rebirth. The site also stocks live casino games, table and card games such as bingo, scratchcards, poker, keno, roulette, blackjack, and baccarat.

New Kenyan players can get a welcome bonus of up to 10,000Kshs, while also getting a chance to join other ongoing promotions at the site. The casino provides convenient payment options such as Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, MoneyGo, Ecopayz, Neteller, Bitcoins, and Skrill-1 tap. Players can also make payments in Kenyan Shillings, making it one of the best online casino sites focused on Kenyan players.

FAQ

Nairobi casinos

Nairobi has just under 20 gambling facilities that cater to a wide range of gamblers. These facilities have more than a hundred table games, nearly a thousand machines catering to video poker and slots enthusiasts.

Casino Flamingo is the largest of the casinos in Nairobi and it has more than a dozen table games including American roulette, pontoon, blackjack, and two poker tables. There are almost 200 machines for video poker and slots players. This casino offers games powered by some of the best software and a few examples of the software providers include EGT, IGT, Amatic, Novomatic, Artronic and Williams.

Finix Casino is another one that offers players plenty of gaming options that’s also located in Nairobi. This casino has more than a dozen table games with some of the games including blackjack, Caribbean baccarat, roulette, and Texas Holdem. This casino is also great about offering a good variety of tournaments for poker, bingo, etc. There are also almost 70 machines for video poker and slots players.

Diamond Casino is another option for those in Nairobi that want to gamble. This casino has more than 60 machines, as well as table games that include variations of poker, roulette and blackjack. Another thing about Diamond Casino that is something that makes it unique is it offers its own version of poker which is appropriately named, Diamond Poker. This casino also has a loyalty program that’s known for being an excellent one.

Gambling regulator and supervisor in Kenya

The Betting Control and Licensing Board is the official authority for regulating and supervising the gambling market in Kenya. They are tasked with monitoring and evaluating licenses, issue new licenses and, of course, by enforcing the market should there be any breach of the rules.

The online casino market in Kenya is, however, not part of the current regulations. With the failed attempt with BetKenya of keeping online gambling as a state monopoly, Kenya has not issued specific regulation or legislation for the online part of the market. As seen in other markets online gambling regulation often takes back control of a market and generate revenue to the state purse. It also creates a better environment for us players. Both in terms of accountability and enforcement of the online casino operators, but also in terms of responsible gambling initiatives. Therefore, we at Africacasinos.com hope to see some development on the online casino and betting market in Kenya. A discussion that is very much alive still in 2021.

All-embracing Compatibility & Intuitive Interface

Each game is optimised and well designed for enjoyable use on any device. The interface is easy-to-use and lucid for the player with casino tips and strategies.

Enjoy convenience, functionality and usability on every platform. You can download the Android/iOS version on our official website.

Blackjack

Another popular table game is that of blackjack. This is one of the very few games in a casino that requires the user to apply some skill and strategy to take advantage of a low house edge. Whilst the game is famed for its low edge, this is only possible should the player play the perfect strategy for each hand.

Blackjack is one of the more social games at any casino. Even when playing online you’re able to sit at the table with other players, with some casinos allowing you to use chat boxes to interact as well.

Like roulette, there are many different versions of the game that you can access. The basics remain the same for each in that you need to beat the dealer’s hand with a score of 21 or less.

Rules change from each game, which means that players will need to adjust their strategy accordingly. One thing that we will note is if you’re using a hand chart to perfect your strategy, make sure that the hand chart is the correct one for the game type that you’re playing. If it differs, then the slight rule changes will affect how you’re supposed to play the hand.

Check out all online gambling sites in Kenya

Kenya Gambling Guide (on the picture: Finix Casino, in the capital, Nairobi)

History of Gambling in Kenya - click to expand

1964: Kenya achieved independence in 1966, from the British Empire. And the country’s initial gambling legislation and their stance towards games of chance were heavily influenced by the British gambling laws.

1964 – 1966:  It is unknown what was the legal status of gambling between the declaration of independence and the creation of the Kenyan gambling legislation in 1966. Gambling establishments most likely remained in operation, therefore gambling was likely de facto legal, but unregulated in the interim.

However, we couldn’t find any evidence or source in support of this, this is just conjecture based on what happened in other African countries during, and right after, independence.

If you know of any material, which has information about gambling in Kenya between 1964 and 1966 please leave a link to it in the comments section. Thank you.

1966: Creation of the Kenyan gambling legislation, with the passing of the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act. Even though this act initially did not mention online gambling in any capacity, due to subsequent amendments it applies to internet gambling as well nowadays.

2011: Amendment to the Kenyan gambling legislation officially makes online gambling legal in the country.

The first online gambling operator in Kenya was established in 2011. It was betkenya.com, which was a joint partnership between the Kenyan government and the Canadian Amaya Gaming Group.

The company was in a monopolistic situation until 2014.

It closed entirely sometime in 2017 due to mismanagement, alleged corruption and disappointing revenue due to high gambling taxes. As a result of this the government decide to look for another business partner as early as 2014.

2014: The next big private company to partner with the Kenyan government was SP International Ltd. (and Milestone Games was their Kenyan subsidiary)4.

SP International Ltd. is an Irish sports betting company (brand name: SportPesa), with very wealthy backers (TGP Europe, RCS Media) and more than enough capital to make a successful African expansion.

However, this partnership also did not last long, due to issues with the government’s bureaucracy slowing everything down, corruption and over-taxation (comment: 15% gambling tax + 7.5% excise duty on bets, which adds up to a high tax rate by global standards).

2019: SportPesa left the Kenyan market sometime in 20196, the official reason given was over-taxation, which made it very difficult for them to turn a profit. The local subsidiary Milestone Games ceased operation and laid off around 400 employees, which made national headlines and became a politically charged topic.

The gambling sector was fully privatized and the government is no longer interested in partnering with a gambling company to create a state-backed monopoly (this is true for all forms of gambling, even the lottery segment is privatized).

UPDATE 2022: The gambling tax will be increased to 20% in 2023.

Gambling is legal in Kenya since 1966, according to the 1966 Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act1.

The Betting Control and Licensing Board is responsible for the licensing and regulation of all forms of gambling activities (details can be found below at the Kenya gambling licensing section).

People, who operate unlicensed gambling venues will be punished with hefty fines and/or jail time (four-year jail term and a fine of $87,519), according to the Penal Code of Kenya2.

Online gambling is also legal, since 2011.

/Comment: Different forms of online gambling might have been legalized at different times. What is certain is that online sports betting (the biggest segment of the Kenyan online gambling sector) was legalized in 2010, effective from 20113./

Initially the online gambling sector operated as a de facto monopoly of Betkenya (a joint venture of the government of Kenya and the Canadian gambling company Amaya Gaming Group). However, this company failed to meet the expectations of both partners and was eventually shut down amid allegations of corruption, overtaxation and mismanagement.

Subsequently, the Kenyan online gambling sector was fully privatized, sometime around 2019. And nowadays there are almost 100 gambling companies in operation in the country (around 20 of them operate Kenyan online gambling platforms as well, many of them subsidiaries of the big international brands)7.

Only gambling websites with a valid Kenyan wagering licence can accept players from the Republic of Kenya.

Using unlicensed online gambling platforms is illegal. Unlicensed gambling websites might be blocked.

UPDATE 2022: Thanks to visitors leaving comments about this we are now aware that Milestone Games, a subsidiary of SportPesa, ceased operation entirely in 2019 and they laid off all their employees. We updated the history of gambling section above with the information. Thank you.

You can find a list of online gambling websites, which accept players from Kenya below.

Can tourists play online from Kenya?

Yes, the laws discussed on this webpage only apply to Kenyan citizens, and they do not apply to tourists. Tourists (expats, non-citizens, migrants) can play online freely, while enjoying their stay in Kenya. However, unlicensed digital gambling platforms will still be blocked as long as you are using Kenyan internet.

Bet365

Review

Accepts punters from over 200 countries, has a great selection of games, plus has more deposit options than other online casinos. Read the Bet365 review.

Bookies Corner: In Liz we Trust…

September 30, 2022

Mayfair RLK Group

It is under East African Casinos and is situated at Intercontinental Nairobi. RLK Casino has sixty slots and video machines, eight roulette tables, and eight card tables. The casino games include American Roulette (single zero), Bingo, Brag, Black Jack, Seven Cards Poker, Pontoon, and Caribbean Poker. Food and drinks are available for all players, and the casino accepts major currencies and credit cards.

Are Online Casinos Based in Kenya?

The majority of online casinos are not in fact based in Kenya but instead based all over the world. Lots of European casinos can cater for the Kenyan market, which is where the majority of players will be able to get access.

As a result, there are several plusses and minus with this. The biggest plus is that quality of online casinos outside of Kenya are much better than those based in the country. They usually have access to better games, better software and even better bonuses as a result.

These casinos will already have licenses in place within their jurisdiction, but they need to make sure that this is acceptable in Kenya to make it fair and safe for these players.

Conduct an Extensive Research

Before choosing an online casino, it is critical to conduct background checks on any sites of interest to ensure they are reputable and trustworthy. Looking up reviews and evaluations from previous site users is one of the best approaches to finding useful information.

Therefore, if you discover that many customers are having issues with payment methods, cash-outs, and customer service with an online casino, it is best to avoid such a site.

Overall, it is essential to do your homework on a casino’s deposit & withdrawals methods, incentives, bonuses, and customer care. All of these are critical for your success in winning big with online games.

Also, to prevent being another victim of a fraudulent website, ensure any site you’re joining up with has the right licensing from the relevant authority.

Gambling Statistics

All trends suggest that gambling in Kenya is on the rise. Many researchers point towards the rapid growth of sports betting as evidence of the fact. Because the country has set its legal gambling age at 18 years, Kenya has the largest number of gamblers in sub-Saharan Africa.

It is the third-largest gambling market in the continent, sitting just behind South Africa and Nigeria. Kenya recently earned over 1billion shillings due to betting. Sports betting dominates the market, but there are still a decent number of players who wager on casino games. In 2014, the money generated by casinos rose by 6.9%.

Most of the information available out there highlights the negative aspects of betting in Kenya, and for good reason. Most of the studies we found highlighted the social impacts of wagering but did not discuss the economic developments that have resulted from the boom in the gambling market.

Trends suggest that the industry is going to grow for the foreseeable future, but we cannot predict whether this growth will positively impact the country’s economic sector or spiral out of control. The government will definitely need to look into curbing the worrying trend of underage gambling in Kenya.

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Navigate through the Platform

To further verify a platform’s usability after you’ve selected one that interests you, you’ll need to go ahead and visit the site or app to check whether what the reviews say is accurate. Examine the user interface and features of such a website to ensure that it is appropriate for your needs.

Also, browse through the site to see how it works, whether it is quick, easy, dependable, or cumbersome and riddled with broken links.

You may also try out the free versions of the games. This will make you acquainted with the gaming experience on the site and to have a sense of what to anticipate when you sign up.

It is essential to see if the website offers any welcome incentives or if there are any ongoing promotions that you can benefit from.

Also, ensure you confirm customer service efficiency by asking questions to measure their response rate and overall customer care performance. However, if customer assistance is only available to registered players, you can access it after signing up.

Safety of Your Personal and Financial Information

Trusted online casinos strive to ensure that your personal and financial information is safe at all times. They are usually transparent about the measures put in place to ensure this is possible and list such measures in their privacy policy.

What You Need to Know to Play Legally in Kenya

Although gambling is a worldwide industry, it does not mean that every country takes a positive stance towards the activity. Everywhere you go, you’ll come into contact with different gambling laws and restrictions. Some territories allow some game-types while restricting others and other nations have gone as far to ban all forms of gambling.

You may be wondering if gambling is legal in Kenya. The next sections of this page will look at gambling in Kenya specifically. You’ll be happy to know that gambling is a legal and popular activity in Kenya.

Gambling in Kenya

Important Topics:

• Kenyan Gambling Laws
• Gambling Taxation in Kenya
• Most Important Legal Texts
• What the Future Might Hold

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Poker played with three cards dates back to the origins of the game of poker. As a result it's as unclear as the origins of poker, but includes the 16th century British card game of Brag. Rules for three card poker are included in Hoyle's Rules of Games (Second Revised Edition) from 1983 along with a hi-low variant.Three card poker (TCP) is a poker variant played in casinos. In common with other such games it can also be played in other formats, such as in online gambling on the internet. It is the most profitable proprietary table game ever when measured by win generated for casinos or by revenue generated for the rights owners.

This article focuses on the best casinos located in Kenya. Casinos form part of the gambling industry in Kenya which is growing at a faster rate. The industry is regulated by the Betting Control and Licensing Board.

There are about 30 licensed casinos in Kenya. Most of the casinos are located in major towns such as Nairobi and Mombasa. Even though people have adapted to online gambling including online casinos, many people still visit land-based casinos.

Some of the popular online casino sites in Kenya include; Casino.com, Casino Cruise, Mansion Casino, Spinit, Betway and 22Bet. The sites offer games such as blackjack, roulette and poker.

Before we proceed to tell you where you should go visit and play next, we give a piece of advice: analyse and pick a method of playing to maximise the chances of winning when you play casino games. Then, you’ll be able to have more fun than expected in any of the following glamorous casinos:

1. Mayfair Casino & Club

The Mayfair Casino & Club was opened in 1994 as the flagship of the East African Casinos brand. The casino’s gaming room has on the floor, six tables, six roulette tables, sixty slot and video machines. There are two card tables and one roulette table in the prive. There is complimentary food and drink for all players.

Operating Hours

Slot and video machines: 12 midday everyday.

The tables: 1 p.m- 3 a.m, Weekdays and Sunday.

2 p.m to 4 a.m, Friday, Saturday and public holidays.

Location: Parklands Road, Westlands, Nairobi.

Contacts: 0724 255 400, 0735 991 899.

Email: enquiry@myfrgroup.com.

1. Casino FlaminGo

Casino FlaminGo sits on a 16,000 square feet area and consists of 160 slot machines fitted with the latest online technology systems and 15 live game tables. It also offers advanced loyalty program with incentives such as happy hours, lotteries and promotions as well as lucky draws for customers.

It offers a fun filled casino experience featuring roulette, blackjack, texas hold’em, pontoon, brag, 7 card poker, mini punto banco and cutting edge gaming technology.

Location: Fortis Towers, Along Woodvale Grove, Westlands, Nairobi.

Contact: 0735 257 777.

1. Finix Casino

Finix Casino brings all excitement of casino gaming under one roof. It is regarded as the house of texas hold’em. It offers complimentary food and drinks, ample parking, pick up and drop off services upon request.

The casino holds poker tournaments every Sunday with a prize fund of Kshs 200,000 guaranteed. It also holds a grand texas hold’em tournament every first Saturday of the month, with a grand prize of Kshs 1,000,000 guaranteed.

Location: Nyaku House, Argwings Kodhek Road, Hurlingham, Nairobi.

Contact: 0700 049 217.

1. Millionaires Casino

Millionaires Casino is part of the internationally recognised Millionaires Gaming Africa Group operating casinos since 2005. It is open daily from 10 a.m to 4 a.m. It offers exceptional services and the latest gaming techniques in the market.

Location: Two Rivers Mall, Limuru Road, Nairobi.

Contact: 0703 888 889.

Email: info@nairobimillionaires.com.

1. Sky City Casino

Sky City Casino is a state of the art casino with three gaming floors. The ground floor offers gaming machines and is open from 10 a.m to 2 a.m. The 1st floor offers table games such as roulette, blackjack and pontoon. The 2nd floor features a poker club that has poker tables.

The casino has daily tournaments from Monday to Friday at 9 p.m. It also has progressive slots that can award payouts of more than Kshs 1,000,000.

Location: Kaunda Street, Nairobi CBD.

Contact: 020 224 8750.

1. Pink Apple Casino

Pink Apple Casino is the only casino in Nairobi that offers a craps table. It is home of entertainment offering bingo jackpots of more than Kshs 2,000,000, live table games, slot machines, poker, roulette, baccarat and blackjack games. The casino is open daily from 12 p.m till late.

Location: Woodvale Grove, Westlands, Nairobi.

Contact: 0730 194 000.

1. Senator Casino

Senator Casino offers a friendly yet exciting ambience that provides players with a multitude of games ranging from roulette, blackjack, pontoon, Caribbean baccarat, texas hold’em, up poker  and an extensive selection of slot machines.

The casino offers a wide selection of bitings and drinks complimentary for everyone.

Location: Capital Centre Mombasa Road (Nairobi) and Moi Avenue, Mombasa.

Contact: 0721 426 210.

1. Mayfair R.K.L Casino

The casino is located in the precincts of Intercontinental, Nairobi City Centre. Its gaming room has 8 roulette tables, 8 card tables, 60 slot and video machines on the floor. There is complimentary food and drinks for all players.

Slot and video machines are open from 12 noon everyday. Tables are open from 2 p.m to 3 a.m weekdays and Sunday, from 2pm to 4 a.m on Friday, Saturday and public holidays.

Contact: 0714 058 469, 0735 702 175.

1. Golden Key Casino

Golden Key Casino is located on the rooftop of East Africa’s finest seafood restaurant, The Tamarind, in the exotic coastal resort town of Mombasa. It appeals to both serious and recreational players as part of a night out.

It offers American roulette games, blackjack, caribbean stud poker, pontoon, texas hold’em, three card poker and casino hold’em poker.

Contact: 041 447 1071/ 447 4600/1/2.

1. Royale Palms Casino

Royale Palms Casino offers guests a unique casino experience. It offers a modern and cozy atmosphere, great entertainment, amazing bonus games and a first class culinary menu. It specialises in providing top-layered services to enable players enjoy a variety of live games and slots.

Location: Kenrail Towers, Ring Road, Parklands, Nairobi.

Contact: 0703 181 818.

1. Diamond Casino

Diamond Casino is open every day from 10 a.m to 5 a.m. It offers a full range of table games, American roulette, blackjack, pontoon, easy hold’em, 3 card poker, 5 card poker, jumbo poker, 7 card poker and provides the diamond poker table game.

Location: Diamond Plaza Shopping Centre, Parklands, Nairobi.

Contact: 0703 360 070.

1. Nyali Sands Casino

Nyali Sands is one of the best casinos in Mombasa, offering lots of entertainment, poker texas hold’em games, slot machines, lots of roulette tables and a private room for poker players. It offers new bingo twice a day, from 1 p.m to 6 p.m.

Location: City Mall, Nyali.

Contact: 0703 280 120.

1. Captains Club & Casino

Captains Club & Casino is a VVIP gaming house and probably the only casino in the world facing Nairobi National Park with wild nature. It has a large gaming area that houses several gaming machines and table games.

Location: Along Mombasa Road, Nairobi.

Contact: 0705 090 299.

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