Nairobi iGaming conference: Kenya's regulator admits tech is ahead of regulators
At iGamingFuture East Africa 2026 in Nairobi on 15 October, Kenya's Gambling Regulatory Authority director general said industry technology outpaces regulators and called for closer cooperation. Panels covered withdrawal problems, affiliate quality and how far East African regulators could align rules.
South Africa has a different legal set up from Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania, but the same pressures show up here: slow withdrawals, complaints that go unresolved and licensed businesses competing with unlicensed ones. When a regulator says openly that it is behind the technology, it is a reminder that the player often has to do their own checking. For South African players the practical lesson is to test small withdrawals early and read how a casino handles complaints before depositing much.
What was said
iGamingFuture East Africa 2026 took place on 15 October at Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi. Reporting by iGaming Afrika, published on 16 October 2026, quotes Peter Karimi, Director General of Kenya's Gambling Regulatory Authority, saying the industry's technological advances greatly outpace the regulator's capabilities, so the two sides need to work together. He said operators and regulators share responsibility for keeping gambling safe, and that players should be able to control how they play and see it as entertainment, not an investment opportunity.
Player experience and withdrawals
Catherine Karanja of BantuBet argued that a delayed withdrawal or an unresolved complaint can cost an operator a customer however many markets it offers. She said players increasingly want an explanation of what went wrong, not just an apology. She also questioned adopting artificial intelligence before identifying the problems it is meant to solve, noting that it cannot make up for unreliable transactions.
Affiliates and regulators
A panel of affiliate managers said audience size is a poor measure of quality. First-time depositors, registration-to-deposit conversion and repeat activity say more. Hybrid commission deals, mixing a fixed fee with performance pay, were raised as a compromise. On regulation, officials from Uganda's National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board and the Gaming Board of Tanzania said technical standards and responsible gambling were the likeliest areas for common rules. Tax was harder to align because each government sets its own policy, though operators raised the combined cost of tax and compliance when unlicensed rivals avoid both.
What to watch next
Kenya's licensing fees and related court action are still developing, and we have covered that separately. Watch for any East African agreement on technical and responsible gambling standards. Closer to home, our FICA verification guide explains the identity checks that sit behind many withdrawal delays.