Kenya’s multibillion-shilling betting industry is facing fresh regulatory scrutiny after the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) issued a list of companies cleared to operate during the 2026/2027 financial year, conspicuously leaving out several popular betting brands, including MozzartBet, BetPawa, 1xBet and 22Bet.
In a letter dated November 2, 2026, addressed to Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa and copied to Steve Chege, the regulator identified 11 companies it said had satisfied the Board’s licensing requirements and received relevant licences for the 2026/2027 financial year.
The communication, referenced GRA 15/1 VOL.II (19), is particularly significant because it directs Safaricom to enforce the licensing requirements by restricting payment channels associated with operators that have not secured the necessary authorisation.
The conspicuous absence of MozzartBet is especially noteworthy given the company’s established presence in Kenya’s betting market and its previous encounters with government authorities over licensing and financial transactions.
Other familiar names missing from the November 2 list include BetPawa, 1xBet, 22Bet, HelaBet, KessBet, Pakakumi, Radabet and Shabiki.
The omission raises serious questions about the licensing status of companies that have continued to enjoy visibility among Kenyan punters, attract deposits and compete for customers in one of Africa’s most active betting markets.
Importantly, the omission establishes that these brands were not included in the GRA’s published list for the 2026/2027 financial year as at…
