TLDR
- Kenya’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) is building a central monitoring system to track all gambling transactions in real time
- The sector generated KSh33 billion (US$257 million) in tax revenue in the 2024-25 financial year
- The GRA expects collections to exceed KSh40 billion (US$310 million) this financial year
- Every licensed operator will be required to connect to the system, giving regulators a live view of deposits, wagers, and payouts
- The system will also help tackle money laundering and support responsible gambling tools
Kenya’s gambling regulator is building a real-time monitoring system that will give authorities direct access to transaction data across every licensed operator in the country.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) says the system will be introduced under the Gambling Control Act and will cover both online and land-based gambling.
Why Kenya Is Building the System
GRA Director General Peter Karimi says the goal is better visibility and more reliable tax forecasting.
“The country will be able to predict with a high degree of accuracy the taxes that are going to be realised,” Karimi said.
Currently, regulators rely heavily on figures submitted by operators. The new system would give the government a live feed of gambling activity instead.
The Fintech Association of Kenya said direct access to transaction data will improve transparency and strengthen oversight across the industry.
What the System Will Do
Once live, every licensed operator must connect to the platform. Regulators will be able to monitor deposits, wagers, and payouts as they happen.
The system is also designed to flag suspicious transactions, which the GRA says will help prevent money laundering.
It will include responsible gambling features such as cooling-off periods and player monitoring tools.
Industry consultant David Moshi of Velex Advisory welcomed the move, saying the technology side of the industry had been moving fast while regulators were catching up.
“We saw in terms of technology that the industry is moving very fast, while the adoption from the regulatory side was lagging behind,” Moshi said.
Tax Revenue on the Rise
Kenya’s gambling sector brought in KSh33 billion (US$257 million) in tax revenue during the 2024-25 financial year.
The GRA now expects that figure to climb above KSh40 billion (US$310 million) in the current financial year.
The regulator says the monitoring system will make those projections more dependable by closing the gaps that have made enforcement harder in the past.
The push for real-time oversight comes as Kenya weighs wider gambling reforms, including a proposed 20% tax on winnings.
Gambling revenues are also being watched closely as part of the country’s public funding plans, including repayments tied to Talanta bonds.
