Kenya Gambling Licensing Resumes Following High Court Ruling
Kenya.- 12 August 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Kenya’s High Court has partially lifted an order suspending the country’s new gambling regulations, allowing the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) to resume most of its regulatory functions.
The authority can once again receive and process licence applications, conduct due diligence on operators and carry out anti-money laundering and consumer-protection oversight.
News Details
The original stay was issued in July following a legal challenge against the Gambling Control (Licensing) Regulations 2026.
The order effectively brought implementation of the new regulatory framework to a halt and restricted the GRA’s ability to supervise the licensed market.
Following a request from the Kenyan Government and the regulator, the Court partially lifted the stay while keeping some of the most controversial provisions suspended.
These include the increased licensing fees and new capital requirements imposed on gambling companies.
Industry Context
The regulatory overhaul forms part of a broader transformation of Kenya’s gambling market, replacing legislation dating back to 1966.
The former Betting Control and Licensing Board has been replaced by the new Gambling Regulatory Authority alongside a package of regulations intended to modernise sector oversight.
One of the most contested measures was the substantial increase in licensing costs.
The application fee for an online bookmaker licence rose to KSh5 million, while the licence itself was set at KSh50 million.
The new licences cover a three-year period rather than the previous system of annual renewals.
The framework also introduced a minimum capital requirement of KSh100 million for online bookmakers and iGaming operators.
Statements
David Sarinke, partner at McKay Advocates, said the ruling means the licensing process can resume, although further clarification will be required over which fees should apply while the increased charges remain suspended.
He suggested the most reasonable approach would be to temporarily revert to the fees used before the new regulations were introduced.
Sarinke also expects the regulator to issue fresh guidance clarifying the applicable fee structure and formally reopen licence applications.
Next Steps or Impact
The substantive judicial review will continue over the coming months.
Written submissions are due by 21 September, with a full judgment scheduled for 2 October 2026.
Until then, most of the new regulations can once again be enforced, while the higher licensing fees and capital requirements will remain suspended.
The decision reduces the regulatory vacuum created by the original stay and restores the GRA’s ability to supervise operators, process licences and enforce compliance across the market.
Editó: @fonta
