Let’s be honest: Betting in Kenya just got a bit sweeter. Parliament has slashed the excise duty on bets from 15% to 5%, meaning more of your money actually goes into your bets instead of the taxman’s pocket. The change hits when you transfer funds from M-Pesa to a betting account, making staking easier and more rewarding.
But there’s a loophole around this rule. Some foreign betting sites operating in Kenya aren’t licensed by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB). This means they aren’t subject to the local excise duty, making bets effectively tax-free. Take BC.GAME for example (registration link): it’s operated by Twocent Technology Limited, a company registered in Belize. BC.GAME is licensed and regulated by the Government of Comoros. The platform has passed all regulatory compliance in its licensing jurisdiction and is legally authorized to conduct gaming operations for any and all games of chance and wagering. However, because it isn’t licensed by Kenya’s BCLB, its operations fall outside local tax enforcement, allowing Kenyan users to place bets without the usual excise duty deduction. In this post, we’re going to be focusing on foreign betting sites that do not charge tax. Let’s go.
Betting sites and apps in Kenya without tax
1. 1xbet without tax
The app packs everything you could want football, basketball, tennis, esports, virtual games, and even Aviator. You can follow multiple live matches at once, place bets in real-time, and the app even handles slower internet surprisingly well, which is a lifesaver if you’re not WiFi but using data. Deposits and withdrawals are straightforward, MPesa works flawlessly.
Here’s where it gets interesting: the Kenyan 1xBet app is fully licensed locally, which means it automatically deducts the new 5% excise duty on deposits and 5% withholding tax on withdrawals. But the international 1xBet app, licensed offshore in places like Curacao, doesn’t deduct taxes at the source, making it feel like a loophole for tax-free betting. You can technically still owe taxes on winnings as a Kenyan resident, but the app itself doesn’t withhold anything.
To get it, just open Chrome or your preferred browser, search for “1xBet Global”, go to the official site, and download the version for your device (Android or iOS).
2. Linebet
Linebet is a major international betting platform that has gained popularity in Kenya since 2019. It’s ideal for bettors seeking a tax-efficient experience, as it operates under a Curaçao license and typically does not deduct the Winnings Tax or Excise Duty at the source of the transaction.
Users have the flexibility to bet via the Linebet website or the dedicated app for iOS and Android. The app is key to its success, offering a user-friendly interface, fast performance, and comprehensive coverage across over 40 sports, including popular crash games like Aviator. M-Pesa transactions are fully integrated, with deposits starting at KES 20 and withdrawals up to KES 150,000. New users receive a 100% First Deposit Bonus up to KES 13,523. It’s a reliable, globally backed option with deep market coverage, whether you are on the site or the app.
By the way, you need to use the promo code “TOPBETS1” to claim this welcome bonus.
3. BC Game
BC.GAME started back in the year 2017 as a cryptocurrency-focused casino and sports betting platform, differentiating itself early on by accepting a huge range of digital currencies. While it was initially known primarily for its proprietary casino games and crypto-centric approach, it quickly expanded its offerings to include a massive sportsbook, covering global events from football to esports.
It was this commitment to a decentralized, international model that underpinned its original “tax-free” status for users in jurisdictions like Kenya. Operating under offshore licenses (such as those from Comoros and, initially, Curaçao/Belize), the platform was not directly subject to the local tax enforcement mechanisms of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) or the BCLB.
For Kenyan bettors, this meant two things that made it exceptionally attractive, especially before the recent changes:
- No High Excise Duty: Deposits were processed without the automatically applied (and often burdensome) excise duty on stakes.
- No Withholding Tax: Winnings could be withdrawn without the platform deducting the 5% Withholding Tax at the source, maximizing the user’s payout.
However, the landscape is changing. At the time of this writing (December 2025), betting here is still tax free, but this situation is precarious. The platform’s local entity, Blockdance Africa Limited, recently secured dual operating licenses from the Kenyan regulator, the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB). This registration means that BC.GAME is moving into local compliance, signalling that the era of tax-free betting on this platform might soon come to an end as it will be mandated to enforce the local 5% Excise Duty and 5% Withholding Tax laws.
4. 1WIN Kenya
1WIN presents itself as a robust, globally-focused betting powerhouse, characterized by a clean, user-friendly interface that operates seamlessly across desktop and dedicated mobile apps. While the “tax-free” nature the non-deduction of the 5% Withholding Tax on withdrawals due to its non-BCLB, offshore licensing is a significant financial incentive, its core appeal lies in its breadth of offerings. It primarily appeals to the serious, high-volume bettor and the bonus hunter, as it provides an extensive sportsbook covering over 50 categories, including in-depth esports and thousands of daily events.
A key attraction is its exceptionally aggressive introductory promotion, often featuring a massive 500% Welcome Bonus that can far exceed the offers of locally licensed competitors. Despite its international structure (licensed in Curaçao), 1WIN manages to bridge the gap to local players by fully integrating popular Kenyan payment methods like M-Pesa and Airtel Money for convenient deposits and withdrawals.
4. 888STARZ Kenya
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888STARZ distinguishes itself by blending a strong international sportsbook with a massive online casino and an innovative loyalty system, giving it a modern and versatile feel. Like 1WIN, it operates under an offshore license (typically Curaçao), enabling it to skip the automatic deduction of the 5% Withholding Tax on withdrawals, thereby maximizing the immediate payout for Kenyan players.
This platform particularly appeals to players who enjoy a mix of betting those who want access to a huge library of over 4,500 casino games, including popular slots and live dealer experiences, alongside standard sports wagering. A major unique selling point for 888STARZ is its innovative rewards structure, which offers players cryptocurrency cashback for all bets placed, regardless of the outcome. It also ensures user convenience through fast and easy registration and the acceptance of local payment methods, making it highly accessible despite its global corporate structure.
FAQs
How to avoid betting tax in kenya
While there is strictly no legal method to bet without paying the required taxes in Kenya, there are loopholes and workarounds.
The first approach involves local licensed sites like Betika or Odibets. These do not charge tax on casino games such as Aviator or their virtual leagues. The second method involves moving to fully foreign betting platforms such as Bet365, specifically avoiding local payment methods like M-Pesa. You get to bet tax free but they don’t accept M-pesa sadly. The third, and what I’m recommending here is to use hybrid, dual-licensed platforms like BC.Game. Best of both worlds..
Do you pay taxes on betting
Yes, you definitely pay taxes on betting in Kenya, and the law now taxes the movement of money in and out of your betting wallet, not just the winnings. Let’s say you want to bet KES 1,000 on Arsenal to beat Chelsea at 1.8 odds through M-Pesa. First, when you deposit that KES 1,000 into your betting account, there’s an Excise Duty of 5% that gets deducted. So, KES 50 is the tax on getting your money in, meaning you start with less than a thousand to wager.
Now, if Arsenal wins and your payout is KES 1,800 (from KES 1,000 stake, assuming the company absorbs the deposit tax), the taxman hits you again when you withdraw. A 5% Withholding Tax is applied to the entire amount you pull out even the original stake! So, if you withdraw the full KES 1,800, 5% is deducted, which is KES 90. Essentially, the government gets a slice when you put the money in, and another slice when you take the money out, regardless of whether you won or lost overall.
