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Betway Kenya Review: Closed Since 2023, What Happened

Betway no longer operates in Kenya. This review explains the exit, the liquidation, what old customers can do and which licensed bookmakers replace it.

By , Editor, betting tips and bookmaker reviewsUpdated 5 min read

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This Betway review has to start with the most important fact: Betway Kenya stopped taking deposits and closed new registrations on 16 May 2023, and it has not returned. Its Kenyan owner, BlueJay Limited, later filed for liquidation in the middle of a large tax dispute with the Kenya Revenue Authority. When we checked on 28 October 2026, the old Kenyan domain did not load at all. So if you searched for "bet way" or "Betway Kenya" hoping to log in and place a bet, the honest answer is that you cannot, and you should not send money to anything that claims to be Betway Kenya today.

BetTips.co.ke is an independent guide to Kenyan bookmakers. Below we explain what happened, what former customers can still do, how scammers use the Betway name, and which licensed Kenyan bookmakers cover the same ground.

Betway Kenya status at a glance

QuestionAnswer
Can I open a new Betway account in Kenya?No. New registrations closed in May 2023
Can I deposit?No. Deposits stopped on the same date
Is the Kenyan site online?It did not load when we checked in October 2026
Who owned it locally?BlueJay Limited
Is there a liquidation?BlueJay Limited filed a liquidation petition in September 2024

What happened to Betway in Kenya

Betway was one of the bigger international names in the Kenyan market, known for football betting, a casino and its sponsorship-style marketing. Its path in Kenya was not smooth. In 2019, when the regulator declined to renew licences for a group of operators over tax compliance, Betway was among them; it resumed operations in August 2019 after clearance from KRA.

The final exit came in 2023. On 16 May 2023 Betway Kenya stopped accepting deposits and closed registrations, while allowing existing customers to cash out remaining balances. The business press linked the decision to Kenya's heavy tax environment for bookmakers. Then, according to a petition presented on 30 September 2024, BlueJay Limited, the company that held the Betway brand in Kenya, filed for liquidation amid a multi-billion shilling tax row with KRA.

Betway was not alone. Several international operators left Kenya over the same period, including Betsafe and Betin. You can read about Betsafe's exit in our Betsafe Kenya review.

Is Betway legit? Why the question has changed

Before 2023 the question "is Betway legit in Kenya" was about licensing and payouts. Today it is different: there is no licensed Betway operation for Kenyan players. That means any site, app, paybill or agent offering "Betway Kenya" betting now is either unrelated to the brand or an outright fraud. Kenya's betting regulator has also changed, with the Gambling Regulatory Authority taking over from the BCLB under the Gambling Control Act, 2025, and online operators must now hold a valid Kenyan licence. Betway does not appear among the operators we could confirm as active.

Betway in other countries

The Betway brand still operates in some other markets, which is why searches such as "betway uk" or apps for other African countries still turn up. Those sites and apps run under other countries' licences and are not for Kenyan residents. Using foreign sites through workarounds leaves you without Kenyan consumer protection and can break their terms, which can void winnings. Our licensed betting sites list shows what is legal for Kenyans.

Old Betway balances and logins

Betway allowed existing customers to request cash-outs after the May 2023 closure. If you believe money is still owed to you:

  1. Collect your evidence: M-Pesa statements showing deposits, any withdrawal requests, emails or SMS from Betway.
  2. Note the dates and amounts clearly.
  3. Because the Kenyan company is in liquidation, claims by creditors are handled through the formal liquidation process. A lawyer or a consumer advice service can explain how to lodge a claim.
  4. Never pay anyone who contacts you offering to "recover" your Betway balance for a fee.

Searches for "betway logins" are still common. The old Kenyan login no longer works, and a page that accepts your old Betway password may be a phishing site collecting credentials you also use elsewhere. If you reused that password for email or M-Pesa-linked services, change it.

Scams that still use the Betway name

  • Fake apps: APK files labelled "Betway Kenya" circulating on Telegram or download sites. There is no current Kenyan Betway app; see our Betway app page.
  • Fake paybills: SMS messages giving a "new Betway paybill". Money sent there will not reach a bookmaker. Details on our Betway paybill page.
  • Vouchers and free data: offers of a "free Betway voucher" or "Betway free data" in exchange for your number or a fee.
  • Tipsters: paid groups selling "Betway sure odds" or fixed games. No fixed matches are sold honestly, and no one can promise a win.

What Betway offered, and where to find it now

Former Betway featureWhere Kenyan punters look now
Football and live bettingLicensed sportsbooks in our live betting sites list
Casino and slotsOperators in our real money casino guide
Aviator and crash gamesSites listed on our Aviator sites page
Welcome offersCurrent deals on our bonuses page
M-Pesa paymentsOur M-Pesa betting sites comparison

Licensed alternatives to Betway in Kenya

If you liked Betway for big-league football, the active bookmakers below cover the same competitions, take M-Pesa and publish their operator details. They differ in jackpots, apps and bonuses, so read each review before choosing.

Active bookmakers instead of Betway
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.

How to switch without regrets:

  • Check the licence number in the new site's footer.
  • Start with a small deposit and request a small withdrawal to see how payouts work.
  • Read the bonus rules before opting in; a big headline often hides strict wagering.
  • Set a deposit limit in your new account on day one.

Betway live matches, odds and boosts

Searches for "betway live matches today", "betway odds" and "betway boost" show that many punters miss the way Betway presented football: a clean list of today's games and boosted prices on popular EPL fixtures. Two things replace that habit well. For the day's games with analysis, use our today's predictions. For prices, compare the same match across two or three licensed bookmakers before placing a bet, because the best odds rarely sit with one operator all week.

Our verdict

There is nothing to rate: Betway does not serve Kenyan players and its local company is in liquidation. We keep this page to answer the many people still searching for the brand and to steer them away from fake apps, paybills and logins. Betting is for adults 18+ only. If losses from an old account or a new one are causing stress, our responsible gambling page lists support, and our main Kenya betting sites ranking shows the operators we can confirm today.

Frequently asked questions

Is Betway still operating in Kenya?

No. Betway Kenya stopped deposits and new registrations on 16 May 2023 and its Kenyan owner later filed for liquidation.

Why did Betway leave Kenya?

Reports linked the exit to the tax burden on Kenyan bookmakers, and the local company BlueJay Limited was in a large tax dispute with KRA when it filed for liquidation.

Can I still log in to my old Betway Kenya account?

The Kenyan site did not load when we checked in October 2026. Be careful with any page that asks for your old Betway login, as it may be phishing.

Can Kenyans use Betway from another country?

Betway sites in other countries are licensed for those markets only. Using them from Kenya removes local protection and can break their terms.

What is a good replacement for Betway in Kenya?

Choose a licensed operator from our Kenya betting sites ranking, check its licence in the footer and start with a small deposit.

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.