Verify a licence before you deposit

It takes under a minute and protects you from the one category of operator fraud that's genuinely costly — the unlicensed or falsely-licensed site.

  1. 1

    Find the operator's claimed licence

    Scroll to the footer of the operator's website. A legitimate operator displays a licensing claim — usually "Licensed by the GRA" or a licence number in the format BK XXXXXXX (sportsbook), PG XXXXXXX (casino), or PL XXXXXXX (lottery). Note the exact number.

  2. 2

    Check it against the register

    Search our register of 187 licensed operators by name, company, or licence number. The operator should appear, and the licensed company name should match what's in the operator's own terms and conditions. Our register is compiled from the GRA's published list.

  3. 3

    Confirm against the GRA's own list

    For the final word, cross-check the GRA's official published register. We keep ours current, but the regulator's own list is always the ultimate authority. If an operator appears in our register but you want certainty, the GRA's list confirms it.

  4. 4

    If it's not there, walk away

    If an operator displays a licence number that isn't on the register, or the company name doesn't match, treat that as a serious warning. Don't deposit. Unlicensed operators can legally be hard to recover money from, and a fabricated licence number is an outright red flag.

Already had a problem with a payout? See what to do if a betting site won't pay out. New to the rules? Start with is online betting legal in Kenya?

A note on company names

The licensed company is frequently not the brand name. For example, the brand "Betika" is licensed under "Shop & Deliver Limited," and "SportPesa" under "Milestone Games Limited." This mismatch is completely normal — most operators run their consumer brand through a separate licensed corporate entity. What matters is that the licence number is real and on the register. The register shows both the brand and the licensed company for exactly this reason.

A reminder on the regulator itself: the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) formally took over from the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) on 28 February 2026, under the Gambling Control Act, 2025. Licences issued under the BCLB carried over through the transition. You may still see "BCLB" in older operator footers; that's a legacy reference, not necessarily a problem.