What sports can I bet on from Kenya?

Kenyans love their sports with local football, rugby, golf, athletics, cricket, motorsports and other sporting events taking place throughout the year.

Online bookies are a great option for Kenyans who want to have a punt. The best part is you can not only make a bet on a game of football or rugby on your desktop but on your phone too.

How to bet on sports online from Kenya

There are many safe and legal Kenyan betting sites in 2024, with these websites ranging from those regulated in Kenya, right through to International betting sites.

The best Kenyan sports betting sites are accessible via all platforms, including mobile, with most having bookmaker apps available for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

So to get started betting on sports in Kenya, you should use a website like BettingPlanet, to find a safe bookie to join. The signing up process involves filling in a digital form with your name, address and other personal details.

You can then fund your account using many different payment types, with these including both credit and debit, cash payments, SMS and many others. You are then ready to begin betting on sports, with thousands of daily markets available.

Where to bet on sports in Kenya

The number one sports betting sites for Kenyans who want to have a punt on their favourite sport is Betway. The site provides a variety of international sports markets, as well as racing, and allows Kenyans to deposit via SMS. It was registered in Kenya in 2015 and licensed by the Betting Control and Licensing Board.

There is a range of other betting sites which accept Kenyans, as detailed below. They each offer welcome bonuses which you can take advantage of too.

KENYA SPORTS BETTING SITES

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New UK & Ireland customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. T&Cs Apply

Every betting site we recommend is encrypted to ensure all details remain protected. They all have a reputation for providing a safe betting experience too.

Can Kenyans bet on sports via SMS?

Betting via SMS is popular with local bookmakers in Kenya. Since you can easily make your bets via the mobile site or app, there’s no need for this service.

You can still make deposits via SMS, though.

Betway is a popular betting site based in the UK and licensed in Kenya. It accepts mobile phone-based money transfers, also known as M-Pesa, which was was launched in 2007 by Vodafone and remains to be one of the biggest payment methods in the country.

Use your smartphone to create an account with Betway and then make a deposit by using M-Pesa on your phone.

Select Pay Bill via the menu and enter the online bookmaker’s business number (Betway’s is 880185) and your account name.

Then enter how much you want to deposit (minimum Ksh10) and your M-Pesa pin number.

Finally, SMS the details and your funds will appear in your account following a text message confirming the transaction.

If you want to open an account with a different betting site, you will have to find another payment method. There are several alternatives for Kenyan punters, which we detail below.

Kenya Premier League betting alternatives

Betting on the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and Kenya’s national team, the Harambee Stars, is popular among bettors at local bookmakers, including Sportspesa. But Kenyans can also bet on international football matches, including the English Premier League (EPL), via online betting sites.

Although betting on the KPL is available at land-based bookmakers, there is also many Kenyan licensed bookies that frame markets for this event. They will also cover International football matches including UK games, South East Asian Games, the World Cup, The UEFA and plenty more.

How to bet on golf in Kenya

Golf is incredibly popular in Kenya too, and you can get amongst the action every year at the Kenya Open Golf Championship. Kenya boasts 40 golf courses, so it’s understandable why it’s such a popular sport in the country.

Punters can bet on the Open Golf Championship at international sportsbooks including Sportsbet. Markets open close to the event, which takes place in March every year.

While you’re waiting, you can bet on the huge range of golf markets at at sites like BetPawa including the Solheim Cup, the Presidents Cup, the US Masters, the US Open, and the Open Championship.

Rugby betting in Kenya

Rugby is an established sport in Kenya with local teams travelling the world and taking on international teams. The Kenya Rugby Football Union, formed in 1923, manages the sport in the country.

The biggest Kenyan Rugby event is the Safari Sevens Rugby tournament. Rugby fans from all over the world visit Kenya for the annual event. Visit one of the bookies above when the event takes place to bet on available markets.

Other rugby markets you can bet on at Sportsbet include the Mitre 10 Cup, Women’s Rugby World Cup, French Pro D2, Bledisloe Cup and The Rugby Championship.

Kenyan Motorsports betting

Motorsports are extremely popular in Kenya, and the country even has its own Motorsports Federation. Additionally, the World Rally Championship (WRC) once included Kenya in its international circuit. Kenya was considered to be the hardest course out of the then 14 international rally courses.

The Safari Rally was excluded from the WRC calendar in 2003 due to a lack of finances and organisation, but it may make a comeback in 2019. Although the event is no longer a part of the WRC, you can still bet on who will win the event.

The country also hosts the annual Rhino Charge which raises money for conservation. It is a 4WD-rally through the wilderness of the Laikipia region of Kenya.

While you can’t bet on the Rhino Charge, Betway and BetPawa offer a range of other motorsports betting markets including Formula 1.

Cricket

Cricket is an insanely popular sport right round the world, and it is an emerging on in Kenya, with the National team competing on the International stage at various times. Including at the T20 and 50 over World Cups. While the Kenyans were stripped of ODI and T20I status in 2014 and 2015 respectively, it continues to be a popular sport among the youth in the country and there negotiations underway to get the team back on the International stage.

Perhaps Kenya’s most famous, and definitely first famous win on the International stage, was against declining greats the West Indies back in 1996, when they made 160 odd and then dismissed the Windies for under 100.

Kenyan bookies have hundreds of different cricket markets to bet on, with some of the more popular ones including the Indian Premier League, the Big Bash League and English T20 competition.

Athletics

You always think straight to the marathon when you think of Kenya and at the Rio Olympics, in 2016, it was no different with Eliud Kipchoge winning the mens title. It was a similar story in the women’s event with Jemimah Sumgong taking it out. This dominance has been reflected on the world stage for at least 20 years and has lead to more money being put into other athletics events, such as track and field.

The Rio games was the best performance of all time from the Kenya athletics team and the sport is expected to continue to blossom leading up to Tokyo in 2020. You will find betting on both domestic athletics events and International meets at bookies.

Use KES to bet on sports

Betway accepts KES deposits, which is why it is our number one betting site for Kenyan punters. As we mentioned above it accepts SMS deposits, and it also has an online casino.

If you prefer the odds and betting markets at another betting site we have mentioned above then you may have to opt for another currency such as EUR, USD, AUD or GBP. You will be charged a conversion fee so adjust your bank roll to account for it.

International betting sites accept credit and debit cards such as Visa and MasterCard, as well as e-wallets like Neteller, Skrill, Paypal and more. Bank transfers are also available, as well as prepaid methods such as Paysafecard.

Kenyan bonus bets

The best part about betting online is the bonus bets you can claim as a new gambler and a regular punter.

Betway has an array of exclusive betting bonuses for Kenyans, which are compatible with the Kenya Shilling. You will receive bonus bets in KES, and you can use it on an array of betting markets. Be sure to read the terms and conditions before claiming a promotion to ensure you don’t void the offer.

Other betting sites offer welcome bonuses and regular offers – click on a few links in the above table to find the best promotion for you.

Featured casinos

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New UK & Ireland customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. T&Cs Apply