Kenya’s New Rules Let Families and Gambling Firms Block Betting Accounts
New regulations in Kenya now give betting companies and family members the power to stop gamblers from using their accounts. The Gambling Control (Conduct of Gambling Operations) Regulations, 2026, were published on June 30 and allow third parties to step in when gambling becomes harmful.
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Betting firms can suspend accounts if a customer shows signs of financial distress or risky gambling behavior that threatens public security or the integrity of betting, according to Business Daily.
Families also have the right to apply directly to the Gaming Regulatory Authority of Kenya (GRAK) to block a relative from gambling, especially if the habit is putting the family’s finances or the gambler’s well‑being at risk.
“A licensed operator may initiate exclusion where it reasonably believes that a gambler exhibits signs of compulsive or harmful gambling, is gambling beyond their apparent financial means,” Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, stated in the fresh regulations.
No clear rules on how to identify problem gamblers yet
Kenya’s new regulations mark a shift from the old system, where gamblers could only apply for self‑exclusion on their own.
Betting firms are now required to suspend accounts if they believe a customer is in financial distress, but the rules do not spell out how such cases should be identified. Under the changes, betting companies must report any suspension within 24 hours, explaining the risks they see in a gambler’s behavior.
As for families, they can ask the Gaming Regulatory Authority of Kenya (GRAK) to block relatives from gambling if debts or unpaid bills threaten the household. If GRAK approves, the regulator will decide how long the ban lasts and inform all betting firms of the exclusion.
“A family member or other interested party may apply to the Authority for the exclusion of a person where; the person’s gambling has caused or is likely to cause serious financial hardship, the person poses a risk to dependants or family welfare,” the regulation read.
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Kenya continues push for responsible gambling with massive reforms
The initiative also comes as the government is dealing with a surge in betting among young people and the general public. GeoPoll recently shared its survey results, which revealed that 64% of the interviewed Kenyans had placed a bet in the last year. This was the highest recorded on the continent, slightly above Ghana’s 60% and South Africa’s 58%.
The new self-exclusion rules are part of a wider package of reforms that have been introduced to curb the spread of gambling in one of Africa’s fastest-growing markets. Last year, the country banned influencer and celebrity gambling endorsements and restricted operators from promoting their services between 6 am and 9 pm. This led to a massive 89% decline in ad spend by operators.
The newly established GRAK also announced a fresh batch of licensing rules for gambling firms earlier this month. The reforms raise financial requirements across the sector. Online bookmakers, casinos, prize competitions, totalizators, and pool betting operators now need at least KSh10 million in capital.
Each online gambling product must also now carry its own licence and certification from an approved testing lab, while machines and devices need separate approval.
Directors and shareholders must secure individual accreditation, and operators must provide proof of trademark or business registration within 30 days of receiving a licence.
Operators already holding permits under the former Betting Control and Licensing Board have been given 60 days to transition. Their licences remain valid only during this period, after which they must reapply under the new system to continue operating.
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