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The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has now moved ahead with its first full licensing cycle since being established under the Gambling Control Act of 2025. With the High Court’s clearance behind it, the Authority announced that all existing licenses will expire on September 24, 2026, creating a single deadline for operators to reapply.
This means that every business in the sector, from the national lottery to online platforms, must submit fresh applications if they want to continue operating legally.
The GRA, which officially replaced the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) in August 2025, stressed that the process is designed not only to regulate but also to reset the industry under new standards of transparency and responsibility.
Director General Peter M. Karimi underscored the Authority’s stance, saying “We assure all applicants, businesses, investors, and the general public of our dedication to supporting the industry by ensuring integrity and fairness in licensed gambling activities, as required by law.”
Kenya’s gambling market still being debated in court
The announcement comes barely a week after a High Court gave the regulator room to act again. Justice William Musyoka lifted most parts of the stay order that had frozen the Gambling Control (Licensing) Regulations 2026.
The earlier freeze had stalled the sector, with regulators warning of a “regulatory vacuum” that left unlicensed operators unchecked. Musyoka’s latest order means the Authority can now process applications, vet operators, and enforce rules on consumer protection and money laundering.
But the sharp increases in fees, from Ksh10,000 to Ksh5 million for an online bookmaker licence, and annual charges rising to Ksh50 million, are still on hold. Applicants argued those jumps, some as high as 49,900%, could drive businesses out and cut jobs and tax revenue
The court has set October 2 for final judgment, after both sides file submissions in September.
Until then, Kenya’s new licensing system will function in part, with the regulator back at work but the disputed costs frozen under the stay order.
The GRA also called on potential applicants to familiarize themselves with the Gambling Control Act, 2025, so they understand the operational and mandatory requirements before seeking new licences.
