Global gambling market updates, November 4, 2026: Kenya's Senate weighs more time on gambling rules as operators seek annulment

Kenya: operators ask the Senate to annul parts of the 2026 gambling regulations

The Association of Gaming Operators-Kenya (AGOK) asked the Senate on November 3, 2026, to annul parts of the Gambling Control Regulations, 2026, according to a statement published by the Parliament of Kenya. AGOK vice chairperson Paul Mutegi appeared before the Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation and asked it to annul specific provisions and recommend amendments, while making sure licensed operators are not left in a regulatory vacuum.

AGOK made three main arguments, as summarised by Parliament:

• the regulations were not developed in line with the procedural requirements of Part II of the Statutory Instruments Act;
• several provisions are inconsistent with the Gambling Control Act and other written laws, the test set out in Part III of the Statutory Instruments Act;
• the fees and capital requirements are set at levels that amount to taxation or create barriers to entry, rather than recovering regulatory costs.

Mutegi said AGOK wrote to the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary on July 15 and again on August 6, 2026. That office forwarded the concerns to the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) on August 11 and proposed a round-table meeting. "However, no engagements have taken place to date, despite AGOK's requests," he told senators.

Ben Lawrence, chief executive of the Jockey Club of Kenya, which runs thoroughbred racing in the country, told the same session that public participation had been inadequate and that stakeholders' views had not been properly considered even where they were consulted. The committee, chaired by Senator Mwenda Gataya (Tharaka Nithi), resolved to hear more stakeholders before preparing its report to the House.

The November 5 deadline and the November 26 extension

The six instruments under review are the Licensing (Legal Notice No. 111 of 2026), Conduct of Gambling Operations (No. 112), Foreign-based Operators (No. 113), Advertising (No. 114), Gambling Appeals Tribunal (No. 115) and Conduct of a National Lottery (No. 116) regulations. They were tabled in the Senate on July 15, 2026, and referred to the committee under section 12(1) of the Statutory Instruments Act.

Under section 15 of that Act, the committee must reach its determination within 28 sitting days of referral. The Senate Order Paper for November 3 says that period lapses on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The committee chairperson's motion asks the Senate to use section 15(3) to extend the period by 21 calendar days, to Thursday, November 26, 2026. It says the committee needs more time to meet stakeholders, including the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.

The motion appeared on the November 3 Order Paper. On the Order Paper for the morning sitting of Wednesday, November 4, it is listed with the note "Question to be put", meaning the Senate had not yet voted on it.

What is at stake for licensees

The Licensing Regulations set the fees operators are contesting. For an online bookmaker or online casino, the Second Schedule sets a KES 5 million application fee, a KES 50 million licence fee and a KES 5 million annual operating fee, and the Third Schedule sets minimum capital of KES 100 million. Our Kenya gambling licence guide sets out the full fee and capital tables, and the gambling tax rates and licence fees tracker compares them with other markets.

The Senate review runs alongside a separate High Court challenge to the Licensing Regulations, which had no final judgment as of late October 2026, according to press reports. Kenya is one of five markets covered in our gambling licence requirements by country series.

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