Kenya Launches New Online and Mobile Betting Service

Ugandan EliteBet looks to repeat success with foray into emerging mobile betting market in neighboring Kenya.

African online sportsbook operator EliteBet is seizing on the expanding African mobile betting market by launching operations in Kenya. The new service, EliteBet Kenya, will cater primarily to soccer bettors when it opens this month.

Players can register for the service and deposit money using their mobile phones. They receive a personal identification number via SMS which they can access both online and mobile channels to bet on sports in Kenya. Players receive winnings directly via mobile cash transfers.

Big dog leaves backyard

The operator has been a smashing success in the burgeoning gambling market in Uganda, quickly becoming one of the country’s most popular sportsbooks. With mobile penetration on the rise in neighboring Kenya, it has chosen to seize the opportunity.

Kenya boasts over 30 million mobile subscribers, and with a penetration rate of roughly 80 percent, there is room for growth. In addition, sports such as soccer enjoy massive popularity, meaning that sportsbetting could potentially be a major market in the country.

The combination of easy-to-use gameplay and a market thirsty for mobile sportsbetting bodes well for EliteBet, while clearly defined Kenyan gambling laws make red tape a breeze. If the operator can come close to replicating its success in Uganda, investors and sports bettors will be pleased.