📋 SportPesa Kenya key facts

🏢 SportPesa’s story: rise, exit and return

SportPesa launched in 2014 and describes itself as Kenya’s first digital betting company. The brand was brought to Kenya by Pevans East Africa and quickly became one of the country’s biggest bookmakers.

Early growth

Court filings reported by Business Daily in 2022 showed how quickly SportPesa grew: it made a net profit of KSh 44.2 million in 2014, KSh 1.6 billion in 2015 and KSh 6.2 billion in 2016, and KSh 12.9 billion in total over its first five years in Kenya. That success made it a household name, and also made the brand worth fighting over.

The 2019 exit

In July 2019, the Betting Control and Licensing Board suspended SportPesa’s licence in a dispute over taxes, and the company left Kenya, ending several sponsorships.

The 2020 return and the fight over the brand

SportPesa returned on 30 October 2020, after the 2020 Finance Act changed the tax that had triggered the dispute. Business Daily reports that Milestone Games Limited was set up in October 2020 to run the business. The return was turbulent: the regulator tried to block the relaunch, original shareholders of Pevans disputed ownership, and in July 2022 Business Daily reported a Communications Authority order to block SportPesa’s short codes and paybill numbers. A court injunction in November 2020 had allowed SportPesa to keep trading.

The ownership disputes have since swung SportPesa’s way. In January 2026, TV47 reported that the High Court in London had dismissed a former shareholder’s claim that his stake was unlawfully diluted, finding no evidence of fraud or conspiracy, and ordered him to pay about £2.15 million in interim costs. A 2022 Kenyan High Court judgment had already confirmed that Milestone Games lawfully uses the SportPesa trademark. As chief executive Ronald Karauri put it: “In Kenya, our right to the brand was cemented.”

🛡️ SportPesa licence in Kenya

On the 2025/26 register, the most recent list published by Kenya’s regulator, Milestone Games Limited held licence 0001193. Under Kenya’s new licensing regime, SportPesa now displays the licence number GRAK/2026/BK185751 on its Kenyan site, according to Paybillke, which read it on 19 October 2026. That makes it one of the few big Kenyan brands showing a new-format 2026 licence number.

Kenya’s 2026 licensing transition

Every Kenyan operator has had to apply for a licence under the Gambling Control Act 2025 and the 2026 regulations. The High Court suspended the new, higher licence fees on 7 August 2026, then allowed the Gambling Regulatory Authority to collect them while the challenge continues, Business Daily reported on 24 August. Old-regime licences remained valid until 24 September 2026, and by mid-October 2026 the authority still hadn’t published a public register of licences granted under the new rules.

🎁 SportPesa welcome bonus and promotions

Is there a SportPesa welcome bonus?

Not a conventional one. GamblingNews lists “no conventional welcome bonus” among SportPesa’s drawbacks, and we found no current sign-up offer described consistently by reliable sources. SportPesa puts its marketing into jackpots, Aviator campaigns and sponsorships rather than deposit matches. Check the Promotions page after you register.

Promotions we found in 2025–2026

🏆 SportPesa Mega Jackpot and Midweek Jackpot

SportPesa’s jackpots are its signature product. You predict the result of every match on the list, choosing 1 (home win), X (draw) or 2 (away win).

The Mega Jackpot rolls over until someone wins. In July 2026, Business Today reported it at KSh 129,484,042. After a jackpot is won, it resets: it went back to KSh 100 million after the August 2025 win.

Record Mega Jackpot winners

Source: Business Today, August 2025. Bonnie Kamau’s win, starting from a single KSh 99 bet, was the biggest betting payout in Kenyan history and the first Mega Jackpot claimed since 2018, ending a seven-year wait.

A Midweek Jackpot win in 2026

In September 2026, The Kenya Times reported that Richard Kimutai Ngetich, a farmer from Kericho, won KSh 26,987,606 on the Midweek Jackpot by predicting all 13 matches. He’d placed four entries, three quick picks and one he chose himself, and it was his own picks that won.

How hard is it to win?

With three possible results for each of 17 matches, there are 3¹⁷ = 129,140,163 possible combinations, so a random entry has about a 1 in 129 million chance. Even a punter who’s right 60% of the time on each match has only about a 1 in 5,900 chance of getting all 17 (0.6¹⁷). The Midweek Jackpot’s 13 matches give 1,594,323 combinations. Jackpots are life-changing for the rare winner, but they should only ever be a small, fun stake.

⚽ SportPesa sportsbook

Football is SportPesa’s core, with the Premier League, LaLiga, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A among its main competitions, plus basketball, tennis, rugby, boxing, cricket, handball, ice hockey, MMA and volleyball, according to GamblingNews. Paybillke found that SportPesa offers deeper European football markets than Betika, while Betika covers lower Kenyan divisions more comprehensively.

Markets and tools

• Core markets: 3-way result, double chance, over/under 2.5 goals and both teams to score.
• Props: correct score, totals, half-time/full-time and Asian totals.
• JengaBets: build your own bets on scorers, cards, corners and goals.
• Live betting: in-play markets on football, basketball and tennis, with odds that update as the match unfolds.
• Cash out: full or partial.
• Minimum stake: Kenya’s Gambling Control Act sets a minimum online stake of KSh 20.

Because SportPesa sponsors the Kenyan top flight, now branded the SportPesa League, you’ll also find markets on Kenyan football.

🎰 SportPesa casino and Aviator

SportPesa runs a casino section, with Aviator as its headline game. In January 2026, chief executive Ronald Karauri highlighted a customer’s KSh 80 million win on Aviator, TV47 reported. SportPesa has also run Aviator free-bet campaigns, as described above.

💳 SportPesa deposits and withdrawals

SportPesa is built around M-Pesa, and it’s one of the few Kenyan bookmakers where you can deposit and withdraw entirely by SMS.

Deposit by M-Pesa paybill

1. Open M-Pesa. Choose Lipa na M-Pesa, then Pay Bill.
2. Enter business number 955100.
3. Enter your account number. Use your SportPesa-registered Safaricom number in the format 07XXXXXXXX, without a plus sign, spaces or country code.
4. Enter the amount and your M-Pesa PIN.
5. Check the confirmation SMS. The recipient should read “SPORTPESA KENYA” or similar.

Deposit and withdraw by SMS

• Deposit: send DEPOSIT#amount to 79079 from your registered line, and confirm the M-Pesa prompt that pops up.
• Withdraw: send WITHDRAW#amount to 79079 from your registered line. Use the hash sign and no spaces.

Paybillke reports that deposits usually show within one to five minutes and that withdrawals reach M-Pesa within minutes. It lists a minimum deposit of KSh 49, a maximum of KSh 70,000 per M-Pesa transaction, and a minimum withdrawal of KSh 200. If a deposit hasn’t arrived after 30 minutes, contact support with your M-Pesa code; Paybillke says misallocated deposits are usually fixed within 24 hours. You can also deposit with Airtel Money, according to Paybillke’s Airtel guide.

How Kenyan taxes affect your money

Some websites also mention a 20% withholding tax on all betting winnings from July 2026, but iGaming Times, which works from the statutes, lists the 20% rate only for lottery and prize competition payouts. Check the deductions shown on your account before you withdraw a large win.

📱 SportPesa app, web and USSD

SportPesa offers several ways to bet, which is useful in a country where many people use basic phones or expensive data.

• Android app: download the APK from sportpesa.com/app. Paybillke reports that the app isn’t on Google Play in Kenya, so only download it from SportPesa’s own site, never from WhatsApp or Telegram links. It’s typically 5–10 MB, and you’ll need Android 8.0 or later to receive updates.
• iPhone: there’s no App Store app in Kenya. Open sportpesa.com in Safari, log in, then tap Share and Add to Home Screen.
• USSD: dial *955# on Safaricom to bet without data or a smartphone.
• SMS: bet, deposit and withdraw through 79079.

GamblingNews notes that the app includes live scores, betting, JengaBets, jackpots and live games.

💬 SportPesa customer support

• Phone: 0755 079 079 and 0709 079 079, as listed by GamblingNews.
• Live chat and email: through sportpesa.com.
• Social media: SportPesa on Facebook and X.
• Help pages: an FAQ section on the website.

For payment problems, give support your SportPesa transaction reference, your account phone number and your M-Pesa code. If an M-Pesa payment went to the wrong paybill, report it to Safaricom on 100.

🧭 SportPesa responsible gambling tools

Paybillke reports that SportPesa lets you set daily, weekly or monthly deposit limits in the Responsible Gaming section of your account, and that raising a limit is subject to a cooling-off period of 24 to 72 hours. Self-exclusion is also available. Kenya’s Gambling Control Act requires operators to offer deposit, loss and session limits.

1. Open your account settings. Find the Responsible Gaming section.
2. Choose a limit period. Daily, weekly or monthly.
3. Set an amount you can afford to lose. Increases only take effect after the cooling-off period.
4. Take a break if you need one. Ask about self-exclusion, or call the GRA helpline on 0800 723 770.

⚖️ Betting law in Kenya and what it means for SportPesa users

Kenya’s Gambling Control Act 2025 came into force on 26 August 2025 and replaced the Betting Control and Licensing Board with the Gambling Regulatory Authority. According to iGaming Times, the Act and its regulations:

• require at least 30% Kenyan ownership of licensed operators;
• set a minimum online stake of KSh 20;
• require winnings to be paid within two days;
• ban credit cards and cryptocurrency for gambling;
• require KYC checks before an account is activated and before the first deposit;
• require operators to offer deposit, loss and session limits.

For SportPesa users, that means verifying your identity before you play, paying with M-Pesa or another local mobile method, and having the right to set limits on your account.

🔐 SportPesa and data protection

Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has taken action against betting firms. Focus Gaming News reported that in March 2025 the commissioner fined SportPesa over a major data breach.

Whichever bookmaker you use, protect your account: never share your PIN or one-time codes, and use only the official site, SMS code and USSD code.

🤝 SportPesa and Kenyan sport

SportPesa is one of the biggest sponsors in Kenyan sport, and that investment is part of how it rebuilt trust after its return.

• SportPesa League: SportPesa has a 10-year title sponsorship of Kenya’s top football league with the Football Kenya Federation. iGaming Afrika reports that 60% of the sponsorship money goes directly to the top-flight clubs, and that the top three finishers share a KSh 20 million prize pool.
• Club partnerships: Gor Mahia, Murang’a SEAL and Shabana FC.
• Rugby: sponsorship of the Nairobi leg of the HSBC SVNS series through the Kenya Rugby Union, and support for Shujaa tournaments.
• Motorsport: the Safari Rally and a national autocross series.
• Pool: in September 2026, SportPesa launched a National Pool Circuit with stops in Eldoret, Nakuru and Mombasa, and finals in Nairobi in January 2027.
• Grassroots: Karauri told TV47 that SportPesa planned more than 100 events and activations in 2026, including its Tujiamini 3.0 community programme and Cheza Dimba grassroots tournaments.

The new SportPesa League season started late in October 2026 because of a regulatory dispute over relegation rules, iGaming Afrika reported. Karauri said SportPesa’s focus “remains unchanged: supporting Kenyan football and helping it reach its full potential.”

📊 Kenya’s betting market in 2026

SportPesa competes in one of Africa’s busiest betting markets, and 2026 has been a year of upheaval for all operators.

• Market position: Blask search data for September 2026, cited by iGaming Afrika, ranked SportPesa second among Kenyan betting brands, behind Betika’s 29.1% share of brand searches.
• New licence costs: iGaming Expert reported that the 2026 regulations raised the application fee for online bookmakers from about KSh 10,000 under the old regime to KSh 5 million, and renewals from about KSh 5,000 to KSh 2.5 million. The High Court suspended the increases in August, then let the GRA collect fees while a challenge continues.
• Local ownership: the Gambling Control Act requires at least 30% Kenyan ownership of licensed operators.
• Taxes on players: 5% excise on deposits, widened from 1 July 2026, and 5% withholding tax on withdrawals.
• Sponsorship and advertising: big brands such as SportPesa are tying themselves closely to Kenyan sport, from the top football league to rugby, rallying and pool.

For players, the upshot is that the big, established brands with visible licence numbers are the safest choice while the 2026 register is pending. SportPesa, with its GRAK/2026 number on display, is well placed on that test.

🔒 Is SportPesa safe and legit?

SportPesa is a legitimate, long-established Kenyan bookmaker with a documented record of paying huge jackpots. Here’s the balance of evidence.

Why we trust it

• Licence disclosure: licensed on the 2025/26 register and displaying a new GRAK/2026 licence number.
• Paid record jackpots: four Mega Jackpot wins of more than KSh 200 million, including Kenya’s biggest-ever betting payout in 2025.
• Court wins on ownership: Kenyan and UK courts have backed the current company’s right to the brand.
• Responsible gambling tools: deposit limits with a cooling-off period, and self-exclusion.

What to watch

• Unpublished register: the 2026 licence number comes from SportPesa’s own site; confirm it with the GRA.
• History of disputes: SportPesa has been through licence suspensions, ownership battles and attempts to block its paybill. The current position is stable, but it’s a reminder to keep records.
• Data protection: the commissioner fined SportPesa over a data breach in 2025.
• Fake paybills and apps: always check that M-Pesa names SportPesa before you confirm, and download the APK only from sportpesa.com/app.

🌍 SportPesa outside Kenya

SportPesa also operates in Tanzania, where Nexis Global appears on the Gaming Board of Tanzania’s register for online and land-based sports betting. SportPesa Tanzania was named Best Sports Betting Brand in Africa in October 2025, The Citizen reported. Each country’s site has its own licence, payment methods and terms.

🛠️ Common SportPesa problems and fixes

🎯 Who is SportPesa best for?

🧩 SportPesa features explained

🧮 Worked examples

Example 1: the real cost of moving money

You deposit KSh 2,000, so KSh 1,900 reaches your wallet after the 5% excise. You win and withdraw KSh 3,000, so KSh 2,850 reaches M-Pesa after the 5% withholding tax. Across the round trip, KSh 250 went in tax. If you deposit KSh 1,000 and withdraw it without betting, you get back about KSh 902.

Example 2: a year of jackpot tickets

One KSh 99 Mega Jackpot ticket every week for a year costs KSh 5,148 (52 × 99). With odds of about 1 in 129 million per random ticket, that budget buys entertainment, not an investment. Decide your yearly jackpot budget in advance and stick to it.

Example 3: partial cash out

You have a live bet that could return KSh 1,000, and SportPesa offers KSh 600 to cash out. A partial cash out lets you take part of that offer now and leave the rest of the bet running. You lock in some money, but if the bet wins, you’ll receive less than the full KSh 1,000. Cash out is a way to manage risk, not a way to beat the odds.

🎯 Playing the SportPesa jackpots sensibly

No method can make a 17-match jackpot likely to win, but some habits help you get more enjoyment for less money.

• Set a fixed weekly budget. Decide how many KSh 99 tickets you’ll buy before you look at the fixtures, and don’t top up after a near miss.
• Know the bonus tiers. On the Mega Jackpot, bonuses start at 12 correct; on the Midweek Jackpot, at 10. Most winning tickets are bonus winners, not jackpot winners.
• Do your own research. The Kericho farmer who won the Midweek Jackpot in September 2026 placed three quick picks and one ticket with his own predictions, and it was his own ticket that won. That’s one story, not a strategy, but it shows that quick picks have no special advantage.
• Check the fixture list early. Business Today advises submitting predictions early rather than at the last minute.
• Read the rules on postponed matches. How a postponed or abandoned match is settled can decide whether your ticket wins.
• Keep your tickets. Screenshot every entry and keep your M-Pesa confirmations.

🪪 Verifying your SportPesa account

Under Kenya’s Gambling Control Act, operators must check your identity before your account is activated and before your first deposit, and they can check again before paying out. In practice, that means your national ID and the Safaricom number registered in your own name.

• Use your own SIM. Your account, SMS commands and payouts are all tied to your registered number.
• Verify early. Incomplete verification is the most common reason a withdrawal stalls.
• Know your rights. Kenya’s Data Protection Act 2019 gives you the right to ask for your data to be deleted when you close an account, and you can complain to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner if a document request seems excessive.

⚡ Getting the most from live betting and cash out

SportPesa’s live betting and cash out are useful tools, but they work best with a plan:

• Decide your cash-out point before kick-off. It’s easier to stick to a plan made in advance than to decide in the heat of a match.
• Use partial cash out to reduce risk, not to keep betting with “house money”.
• Watch the odds. In-play prices move quickly, so check them again before you confirm a bet.
• Don’t chase. If a live bet loses, don’t immediately place a bigger one to win it back.

🆚 SportPesa Mega Jackpot vs Betika Grand Jackpot

The odds are identical: 17 matches with three outcomes each give 129,140,163 combinations. SportPesa has paid the bigger record prize; the size of each jackpot at any moment depends on how long it has rolled over.

🚨 How to avoid SportPesa scams

• Check the paybill name. The M-Pesa confirmation should name SportPesa. If it doesn’t, stop and report it to Safaricom on 100.
• Download only from sportpesa.com/app. APKs shared on WhatsApp or Telegram can contain malware.
• Ignore jackpot “prediction” sellers. No one can guarantee 17 football results.
• Keep your PINs private. Never share your M-Pesa PIN, SportPesa password or one-time codes.
• Keep records. Save your M-Pesa codes and screenshots of jackpot tickets.

⚖️ SportPesa pros and cons in detail

✅ Strengths

• Record jackpots. The biggest documented payouts in Kenyan betting.
• Works on any phone. App, web, SMS on 79079 and USSD on *955#.
• Licence transparency. A GRAK/2026 licence number displayed on its site.
• European football depth. Deeper markets on top leagues than Betika, according to Paybillke.
• Investment in Kenyan sport. Title sponsor of the SportPesa League and backer of rugby, motorsport and grassroots events.

⚠️ Weaknesses

• No welcome bonus. And little published detail on ongoing promotions.
• No store apps. Android users need the APK; iPhone users need the web app.
• Turbulent history. Licence suspension, exit and ownership battles, though recent rulings have gone SportPesa’s way.
• Data protection record. A 2025 fine from the data commissioner.

🗓️ SportPesa: key dates

📝 How to register at SportPesa Kenya

1. Go to sportpesa.com. Or use the official APK, SMS on 79079 or USSD on *955#. You must be 18 or older.
2. Sign up with your Safaricom number. Create a password; your account and payouts are tied to this number.
3. Verify your identity. Kenyan law requires KYC before your account is activated and before your first deposit.
4. Set a deposit limit. Do it now in the Responsible Gaming section.
5. Deposit. Use paybill 955100 with your phone number as the account, or send DEPOSIT#amount to 79079.
6. Place your bet or jackpot ticket. The minimum online stake in Kenya is KSh 20, and a Mega Jackpot ticket costs KSh 99.

Quick tips for new SportPesa users

• Save 955100 and 79079 in your phone so you never type a wrong number.
• Read every M-Pesa confirmation before you approve a payment.
• Start with small deposits, because 5% excise is taken from each one.
• Try a small withdrawal early to see how the SMS process works.
• Keep jackpot tickets to a fixed weekly budget.

⚖️ SportPesa vs other Kenyan bookmakers

All three were on the 2025/26 register. SportPesa wins on jackpot history and licence transparency, Betika on local football and its Google Play app, and SportyBet on its accumulator bonus and app.

BETIKA

Betika

Paybill 290290, the Grand Jackpot and a Lite site for slow connections.

Visit Betika

SportyBet

Paybill 590555, a highly rated app and a Multi Bet Bonus of up to 1,000%.

Visit SportyBet

🧪 How we reviewed SportPesa

This SportPesa review is based on Kenya’s published licence register, SportPesa’s own licence disclosure as recorded by Paybillke, court and business reporting by Business Daily, TV47 and iGaming Afrika, jackpot coverage by Business Today and The Kenya Times, and independent guides such as Paybillke and GamblingNews. Where sources disagreed, for example on welcome offers or Kenyan tax on winnings, we left the detail out or explained the disagreement.

• 25%
  🛡️ Licensing and safety. Licence status, history and data protection.
• 20%
  🏆 Jackpots and sportsbook. Jackpot structure, payouts, markets and features.
• 20%
  💳 Payments. M-Pesa, SMS, payout speed and tax.
• 15%
  🎁 Bonuses. Welcome offer and promotions.
• 10%
  📱 Access. App, web, SMS and USSD.
• 10%
  💬 Support and RG tools. Channels and limits.