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Betsafe Kenya Review: Closed Since May 2024

Betsafe left Kenya in May 2024. A short review of its time in the market, what it means for old accounts and where to bet safely now.

By , Editor, betting tips and bookmaker reviewsUpdated 3 min read

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Our Betsafe review for Kenya is short because the brand is gone: Betsafe Kenya ceased operations on 14 May 2024, citing the high tax burden on betting. It had launched in December 2020 through Bet High Kenya, the local subsidiary of the Swedish group Betsson. When we checked on 28 October 2026, the Kenyan Betsafe domain did not even resolve. You cannot register, deposit or bet with "Betsafe Kenya" today, so do not send money to anything using that name.

BetTips.co.ke is an independent review site. This page explains the background, what former players should check and which licensed bookmakers to look at instead.

Betsafe Kenya timeline

WhenWhat happened
December 2020Betsafe launches in Kenya through Bet High Kenya, part of Betsson
14 May 2024Betsafe ceases operations in Kenya, citing high taxation
15 May 2024Kenyan media report Betsafe as the latest operator to exit after Betin and Betway
October 2026The Kenyan domain does not resolve when we check

Why Betsafe left Kenya

Betsafe's exit was part of a wider pattern. Kenya has changed betting taxes several times, moving excise duty and withholding tax rules back and forth, and international operators such as Betway and Betin had already left before Betsafe. Betsafe cited high taxation as its reason. Since then Kenya has also replaced the BCLB with the Gambling Regulatory Authority under Kenya's 2025 gambling law, which means any operator wanting to come back would need a licence under the new regime. Our Betway Kenya review covers a similar exit.

Is Betsafe legit? What the question means now

While it operated, Betsafe Kenya was run by a subsidiary of a large listed European gambling group. Today the question "is Betsafe legit in Kenya" has a simpler answer: there is no Betsafe service for Kenyans, so any site, app, paybill or bonus using the name for Kenyan players is not genuine. The global Betsafe brand still appears in other countries, which is why searches for "betsafe sports", "betsafe casino" or "betsafe poker" return foreign sites. Those are licensed elsewhere and are not meant for Kenyan residents.

If you had a Betsafe Kenya account

  • Keep any emails or M-Pesa statements that show deposits, balances or withdrawals from your time with Betsafe.
  • If you believe money is still owed, contact the Betsson group through the channels on its corporate website and keep a written record.
  • If you reused your Betsafe password elsewhere, change it.
  • Ignore anyone who offers to recover a Betsafe balance for an upfront fee.

Betsafe app, paybill and bonus searches

People still search for the Betsafe app download, Betsafe paybill number, Betsafe registration and Betsafe promo code or free bet. None of these exist for Kenya any more. An APK labelled "Betsafe Kenya" is unofficial, a paybill sent by SMS will not reach a bookmaker, and a "Betsafe bonus" link for Kenyans is bait. Real offers from active operators are on our bonuses page.

Lessons from Betsafe's exit

Operators can leave a market with little notice when taxes or rules change. Two habits protect you if your bookmaker ever does the same: withdraw winnings regularly instead of leaving a large balance in the wallet, and keep your M-Pesa statements and account emails for at least a year. A bookmaker that exits in an orderly way usually lets customers cash out, but only a clear paper trail makes a later claim straightforward.

Licensed options instead of Betsafe

Betsafe was known for sports betting with a casino alongside. The active operators below accept M-Pesa and cover the football Kenyans follow, from the EPL to European cups.

Active bookmakers instead of Betsafe
RankOperatorRatingWelcome offerHighlightsVisit
1Our rating: 7.5 out of 10See current offer on site
  • Jackpot
  • Aviator
  • Casino
  • Android app
Visit siteReview of SportPesa
2
Betika
BetikaRead review of BetikaM-Pesa paybill 290290
Our rating: 8.0 out of 10See current offer on site
  • Jackpot
  • Aviator
  • Virtuals
  • Casino
Visit siteReview of Betika
3
OdiBets
OdiBetsRead review of OdiBetsM-Pesa paybill 290680
Our rating: 7.5 out of 10
Free bet for new customers18+ T&Cs apply
  • Jackpot
  • Aviator
  • Virtuals
  • Casino
Visit siteReview of OdiBets
4
Mozzart Bet
Mozzart BetRead review of Mozzart BetM-Pesa paybill 290059
Our rating: 7.5 out of 10See current offer on site
  • Jackpot
  • Aviator
  • Virtuals
  • Casino
Visit siteReview of Mozzart Bet
5
SportyBet
SportyBetRead review of SportyBetM-Pesa paybill 590555
Our rating: 6.5 out of 10See current offer on site
  • Aviator
  • Virtuals
  • M-Pesa
Visit siteReview of SportyBet

18+. Offers and terms change often: always read the full terms on the operator site before you deposit.

Before switching, check the licence number in the footer, read the withdrawal rules and set a deposit limit on day one. Our full Kenya betting sites ranking and the licensed bookmakers list help you compare.

Our Betsafe verdict

Betsafe is not an option for Kenyan players and we do not rate it. Keep your money with operators you can confirm are licensed today. Betting is for adults 18+ only; if it is causing problems, see our responsible gambling page.

Frequently asked questions

Is Betsafe still available in Kenya?

No. Betsafe ceased operations in Kenya on 14 May 2024.

Who ran Betsafe in Kenya?

Bet High Kenya, the Kenyan subsidiary of the Swedish gambling group Betsson, launched it in December 2020.

Is there a Betsafe app or paybill for Kenyans?

No. Any Betsafe Kenya app, paybill or bonus offered today is unofficial and should be avoided.

What should I use instead of Betsafe?

Choose a licensed operator from our Kenya betting sites ranking and check its licence before depositing.

Faith WambuiIllustrated editorial avatar

About the author

Editor, betting tips and bookmaker reviews

Faith Wambui is the editorial pen name of the BetTips.co.ke desk. Pages under this name are researched and written by several contributors who follow Kenyan football, the SportPesa and Betika jackpots and licensing news, and are checked against each operator's published terms, help pages and app store listings before publishing. We update pages when terms change and never accept payment for ratings. How our editorial team works.