Kenya Sets 5% Penalty for Delayed Gambling Payouts

July 9, 2026

2 min read

Kenya's Gambling Regulatory Authority would fine operators 5% and add daily interest for players when prize payouts miss the new deadlines under the Gambling Control Act, 2025.

Kenya’s government proposed new payout rules under the Gambling Control Act, 2025, that set fixed deadlines for prize payments to winners. According to iGaming Afrika, licensees that miss those deadlines would owe the Gambling Regulatory Authority a penalty equal to 5%, while winners would receive the unpaid amount plus interest at 5% per day for up to 21 days. Continued non-payment could lead to licence suspension.

A licensee that fails to pay a winner on time would owe the Gambling Regulatory Authority a penalty equal to 5%, based on the reform proposal reported by iGaming Afrika. The winner would separately receive the outstanding prize amount plus interest at 5% per day for up to 21 days.

Continued non-payment beyond that period could result in licence suspension. The rule ties payout speed directly to a licensee’s compliance status in Kenya.

The proposed schedule sets processing times by prize size. Winnings up to KSh500,000 qualify for immediate automated payment after basic identity checks.

Prizes between KSh500,001 and KSh5 million would need five working days, after additional ownership and anti-money laundering checks. Payments from KSh5 million to KSh50 million would take up to 14 working days, subject to enhanced verification.

Jackpots above KSh50 million would take up to 30 working days and may include structured payouts and financial counselling.

Wider reforms under the Gambling Control Act, 2025 also grant the Gambling Regulatory Authority licensing and enforcement powers over casinos, bookmakers, lotteries, and online operators, according to iGaming Afrika.

💡TGJ Take

Kenya turns payout speed into a compliance issue, not just an operational detail. A 5% daily interest rate leaves operators little room to delay withdrawals during the verification period. Brands active in Kenya need tighter KYC and AML workflows, especially for prizes above KSh5 million, where verification times matter most. Affiliates should track payout reliability among Kenyan partners, because slow withdrawals damage player trust faster than any marketing campaign can rebuild it.