The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has officially begun its transition to the newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) following the signing of the Gambling Control Act, 2025, by President William Ruto.
The GRA will now oversee all gambling and lottery activities across Kenya, assuming the mandate previously held by the BCLB, which was established under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap 131 of the Laws of Kenya.
As per a recent public notice ratified by the Acting Director General, Peter K. Mbugi, the transition process (from the BCLB to GRA) is ongoing and aims for a seamless switch to the new gambling regulatory body by February 2026.
The GRA is set to modernise gambling activities in Kenya, introducing robust consumer protection systems, such as self-exclusion programs, a unified oversight system, and more rigorous compliance measures.
The Act further outlines revised frameworks for anti-money laundering and data protection, thereby strengthening transparency across the gambling sector. Through the unification of these duties under a single regulator, Kenya aims to align its gambling governance with international standards.
As part of the transition, the government has temporarily suspended annual gambling licence applications until the GRA takes complete control. However, all current licence holders will continue operating under the existing conditions until their licenses expire.