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Kenya’s gaming industry is voicing strong concerns over new rules proposed by the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA).
During a public consultation, the Association of Gaming Operators Kenya (AGOK) warned that the draft regulations tied to the Gambling Control Act, 2025 could reshape the market in ways that favor only the largest firms.
The framework, which replaces the old Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act, introduces new licensing structures, compliance obligations, and advertising restrictions. Industry representatives argue that the combination of higher licence fees, layered taxes, and stricter compliance standards would sharply raise operating costs. Smaller operators, they say, risk being squeezed out of the sector altogether.
The consultation highlighted fears that the new regime could reduce competition and limit consumer choice.
Operators call fiscal measure excessive
Kenyan operators have turned their attention to the tax proposals within the draft gambling rules, describing them as too heavy and warning that they could weaken the industry.
Stakeholders argue that higher rates would cut into profits and discourage new investment, while also risking a shift of players toward unregulated platforms where oversight is absent. The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) maintains that the reforms are meant to strengthen consumer protection and improve control over the fast‑growing online sector.
Alongside the tax framework, the proposals introduce rules for foreign operators, an appeals process, and a government‑backed national lottery, all of which could reshape competition.
Public participation is still underway, with submissions expected to guide revisions before the regulations reach Parliament. If the measures are adopted as they stand, operators would face stricter compliance demands and heavier financial obligations, a prospect that industry voices continue to call excessive. The consultation is scheduled to conclude in mid‑April 2026.
