Kenya has warned betting and gaming operators that they could face enforcement action if they fail to comply with the country’s data protection and licensing requirements.
William Kabogo, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications & the Digital Economy, told the Senate that the government is preparing a coordinated enforcement push with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and the Betting Control & Licensing Board.
Kabogo said the data regulator had identified 224 betting and gaming firms, but only 15 were fully registered as both data controllers and data processors. A further 13 were partially registered, five held expired certificates and six were still in the registration process.
The remaining 185 firms were not registered, raising concerns over how personal data is being collected, processed and used across Kenya’s fast growing digital betting market. Kabogo said the government would act against non-compliant operators, including possible cancellation of operating licences, if companies fail to meet the required standards.
The warning comes amid growing scrutiny of gambling advertising, youth exposure and the use of personal data by digital platforms. Kabogo told Senators that gambling and lottery promotions accounted for approximately 61% of enforcement actions recorded by the data regulator during the review period. He said the figures showed the scale of betting related exposure across digital platforms and the need for stronger oversight, particularly where children and vulnerable users may be exposed to gambling content.
Kenya has one of Africa’s most active sports betting markets, supported by high mobile money penetration and widespread use of smartphone-based gambling products. Growth has also increased regulatory pressure on operators, particularly around advertising standards, data collection, licensing compliance and consumer protection. The government is now working on a broader review of child online protection and digital safety, with betting content forming part of a wider debate over the responsibilities of online platforms, broadcasters and advertisers.
Under Kenya’s Data Protection Act, non-compliant firms can face penalties of up to KES5m or 1% of annual turnover, depending on the nature of the breach. Kabogo says the Ministry will report progress to the Senate as the enforcement process develops.
The planned action reflects a wider regulatory shift in African gambling markets, where governments are seeking to balance betting tax revenues and digital market growth with stronger safeguards around data protection, underage exposure and responsible gambling.
