Kenya Plans Real-Time Gambling Monitoring System to Boost Tax Revenue

Kenya’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) is moving to introduce a central monitoring system that would give regulators direct visibility into gambling transactions across all licensed operators. 

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The authority expects the industry to generate more than KSh40 billion (US$310 million) in tax revenue this financial year, and says the new system will make those projections far more reliable. 

GRA Director General Peter Karimi explained that once the system is in place, every operator will be required to connect, allowing the regulator to see every transaction happening in the country’s gambling market. 

Karimi stressed that improved visibility will help the government plan better around expected collections. “The country will be able to predict with a high degree of accuracy the taxes that are going to be realised,” he said. 

According to him, the system will ensure transparency by giving regulators a complete view of deposits, wagers, and payouts, closing gaps that have previously made enforcement difficult.

US$257m in tax revenue for 2024-25 financial year

Kenya’s gambling regulator says the sector brought in about KSh33 billion, equal to US$257 million, in tax revenue during the last financial year. 

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Looking ahead, the authority expects collections to rise above KSh40 billion (US$310 million) with the help of a new central monitoring system proposed under the Gambling Control Act. The platform will give government agencies a live feed of gambling activity, allowing them to track compliance and flag suspicious transactions as they happen. 

The Fintech Association of Kenya described the system as a way to cut reliance on operator‑submitted figures, noting that direct access to transaction data will improve transparency and strengthen oversight. 

Covering both online and land‑based gambling, the system is also expected to help prevent money laundering and support responsible play through tools such as cooling‑off periods and player monitoring features. 

Industry voices welcomed the move, with David Moshi of Velex Advisory stating, “We saw in terms of technology that the industry is moving very fast, while the adoption from the regulatory side was lagging behind.”

The regulator’s push for real‑time oversight comes as Kenya debates wider reforms, including a proposed 20% winnings tax and the growing role of gambling revenues in funding public commitments such as Talanta bond repayments.

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Source: Focus Gaming News