The African iGaming Alliance and Kenya’s Gambling Regulatory Authority have held talks on responsible gambling, consumer protection, anti-money laundering and illegal gambling, in a sign of closer engagement between industry and the new regulator. The courtesy visit brought together AiA chief executive Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe and GRA director general Peter Maina Karimi.
Focus Gaming News reported that the meeting took place on 20 August and covered the same set of priorities, including ways to strengthen cooperation between operators and the regulator. AiA said it wants to keep engaging with the GRA and to support dialogue on a safe, sustainable and well-regulated gambling industry in Kenya and across Africa.
As covered in July, Kenya had already rolled out a digital Gambling Management System to move licensing online and give regulators real-time oversight of licensed gambling activity. Kenya is also implementing the Gambling Control Act, 2025, which established the Gambling Regulatory Authority and set the framework for the new regulatory regime.
The law was assented to on 7 August 2025 and commenced on 26 August 2025. It established the Gambling Regulatory Authority and gave it responsibility for regulating and controlling gambling, issuing licences and developing standards for betting, lotteries, casinos and other gambling products.
According to Sigma, the Act also gives the GRA duties that include due diligence on gambling businesses and relevant individuals, compliance monitoring and action against illegal cross-border gambling. The legislation is framed around public-interest goals such as responsible gambling, reduced social harm and fairness in licensed activities.
Afriwise said the new regulations apply to both online and land-based gambling and point to a more technology-driven and consumer-focused regime. They require operators to hold separate licences for different activities, maintain AML and counter-terrorism financing programmes, register with the data protection commissioner, meet cybersecurity requirements and show compatibility with the GRA’s central monitoring systems.
The same package also tightens advertising controls and adds new demands on foreign-based operators, including capital, security and real-time access obligations. According to Sigma, the AiA represents operators across more than 20 African jurisdictions and provides a platform for dialogue between industry and public authorities, while Kesitilwe previously led Botswana’s Gambling Authority.
