Sports Betting Apps In Kenya
Today the betting market in Kenya is experiencing rapid growth, with Research And Markets think tank estimating that the industry is already valued at $40 million in annual turnover. The betting market has great potential due to the fact that 70% of the population is under 30 years old, and most of people have smartphones and Internet access. These facts attract many foreign bookmakers to the African country. And quality betting apps for them are one of their strong competitive advantages.
In this article we take a look at the best sports betting apps in Kenya and highlight their advantages, specialties and unique features. We will also tell you where you can download these apps. Google Play / AppStore are not always the place to do it.
The List of Betting Apps in Kenya
Sports Betting Apps
Betting apps in Kenya have become an important part of the market. While the older generation of users still prefer to place bets at betting shops, younger users, on the other hand, are more often downloading betting apps to their smartphones. The main reason for this is high mobility. Whether you are at home, at work or standing in traffic in Nairobi, you will always have the bookmaker’s app at hand, where you can place a bet instantly with just a few clicks.
Below you will find a ranking of the best betting apps by category. When selecting the best sports betting apps Match.Center experts focused on the following criteria:
- Convenience and ease of navigation. How well the application is designed to make bets with convenience: whether it is easy to navigate in the menu and whether a list of markets is well located on the smartphone screen of a Kenyan user.
- Speed and stability of the app. We determine the performance of Kenya’s betting apps on Android and iOS devices. How stable the app for mobile betting works and whether it freezes up or not when you go to a new page.
- Availability of in-play betting and live streaming. Is it possible to place live bets in the app and is live streaming available directly on the smartphone.
- Deposit and withdrawal options. Is a range of deposit/cash out options the bookmaker offers to Kenyan users wide enough?
- Communication with technical support. How to get in touch with the support team in the betting app and how quickly you’ll receive a reply.
- Mobile app features. We compare the options offered on the website with what’s available in the mobile app. We look for extra buttons/sections which are missing on the website. If there’s something missing from the app, we decide if it’s a serious limitation.
- Bonuses for downloading. Does the bookmaker offer free bets, bonus funds and other types of rewards to new and regular customers for installing a mobile app on your smartphone.
NB. If your operational system is Android, you can only download betting apps from the bookmaker’s website, not from the Google Play. The app for Android is downloaded in the apk format. To unpack and to use it you need to allow the installation from unknown sources.
Sports Betting Apps for Android
We included Betwinner and Betway in the list of the best betting apps to install on Android. Let’s have a look at each of them.
Betwinner
The obvious advantages of Betwinner include the fact that the web app installs quickly and runs instantly on your smartphone screen. It has a simple navigation, which makes it easy to use even for beginners. The app works perfectly on both smartphones and tablets. No programme freezes have been noticed by Match.Center experts.
But even such a good application has its shortcomings. The most important one is the primitive design, which clearly needs improvement.
Betway
Another great mobile betting app for Android in Kenya is an app from Betway. Whether you prefer to bet on cricket, football or something else, you can access a wide choice of bets right on your smartphone. We’d also like to point out that the app doesn’t freeze when loading, and going from one page to another is quite smooth.
Upon opening the app, it’s nice to see that the main screen doesn’t have a lot of unnecessary buttons that can spoil the impression of Betway. The developers have taken care of the programme’s functionality and added such an important feature as a carousel to the main menu. Now you don’t have to press any extra buttons to see all the sports on the screen. Just swipe to the right or left to see the markets the bookmaker is offering for betting.
Sports Betting Apps for iOS
Among the best betting apps for iOS are two such big players in the market, as Melbet and 22bet.
Melbet
Even though Melbet is new to the gambling industry in Kenya, its software is one of the best mobile sports betting apps for Apple owners in the market. Why? Because, unlike many of its competitors, it is as functional as the bookmaker’s website. You can watch live streaming of matches, make live bets, deposit and withdraw funds using the same payment methods, and the process of registration in the sports betting app is easy.
Moreover, the Melbet mobile betting app is easy to install, it does not freeze while working and it is compatible with all iPhone models.
Betting Apps for Beginners and Newbies
If you are new to betting and are just in the beginning of the way to explore this market, then Match.Center recommends you to start your dive into Kenya’s gambling industry with the best betting apps that are easy to use: Betway and 888sports.
Betway
Betway is one of the best betting apps for beginners. Why?
Firstly, you can make deposits using M Pesa and Airtel Money. Both payment systems are very popular in Kenya. For many local users the functionality of the payment services is very clear. There is no need to deal with foreign PayPal, Apple Pay etc.
Secondly, the navigation in the app is quite simple, and the buttons on the main screen are very conveniently located. You can select any section and jump to a new page with a light touch of your finger. You don’t have to specially try to hit the button and tap it several times to be able to switch to a new page. This is no problem with that in the Betway app. And if you have any difficulty in the process of making bets, you can always contact the friendly support team.
888sport
Another mobile betting app for newbies can easily be 888sports. Its distinctive advantage is the complete lack of any contradictions with the functionality of the website. In the app you can quickly navigate between sections, place bets with a single click and use a wide range of payment systems to make deposits. The minimalistic design, with large, bright buttons and an intuitive interface is just what a user needs at the start of his journey into the great world of sports betting. Do you want to see a list of markets on tennis or golf? No problem. Just click on the three horizontal lines in the top left-hand corner of the screen and go to the section you want. You see – it’s pretty easy. So download the app for iOS and Android, sign up and start placing your first bets.
Apps for Live Betting
Live betting is as popular in Kenya as pre-match betting. Let’s take a look at who in the Kenyan bookmakers’ market offers customers the best apps for live betting.
Betwinner
First and foremost, it’s worth paying attention to the international bookmaker Betwinner. Generally, local punters prefer live betting at Betwinner for an obvious reason: there is a lot of markets to bet on. The beauty of the bookmaker comes not only in the design of its app, but also in the quality of the content. There are more than 40 sports to choose from in the live mode (tennis, basketball, Formula 1, etc.).
So if you want to bet even on a sport that is not very popular, you will be able to find a corresponding event at Betwinner.
Bet365
Without a doubt, in the ranking of the best apps for live betting it is not possible not to mention the English bookmaker Bet365. Its mobile app, designed specially for Kenyan users, is packed with many functions. One of them is an opportunity to place live bets and watch matches in the live mode. However, what makes bet365 special is not live bets themselves in the app, but the fact that live bets are available to users 24 hours a day thanks to a huge selection of events.
Are you a tennis fan? The bookmaker’s range of markets features a fantastic selection of matches between tennis players from all over the globe. Do you like horse racing? Place a live bet on the winner of the Ascot or Dubai races! No matter which sport you like (football, tennis, basketball, baseball, rugby, etc.), at any time you’ll find the bookmaker’s offers to place live bets on all of them. Not every bookmaker in Kenya will give you a 24/7 opportunity to bet on such an extensive list of market line to bet on.
Betting Apps for Cash Out
Sometimes sporting events can be so unpredictable that it would be better to take your money at a minimum profit or loss than to lose it altogether. As such, it can be an extremely important advantage among bookmakers to have an in-app feature such as Cash Out. Let’s take a look at two bookmakers who offer this feature for Kenyan users.
Betway
Looking for the best bookmaker to make an early Cash Out? Take a look at Betway first.
When it comes to choosing an event to bet on, always bear in mind – Betway doesn’t guarantee you’ll always be able to cash out. Matches you will be able to bet on will be marked with “CO”.
Let’s consider how cashout works. You place a bet of 1000 KES on Barcelona’s victory at odds of 1.7. If Barça beats Real Madrid, you win 700 KES. As the match progresses, the Catalans win 1-0. But looking at attacking Real Madrid, you’d think Barcelona would be unlikely to hold on to their lead. The bookmaker offers you to settle the bet early at odds of 1.4. You can take it right now and make a net profit of 400 KES or you can back out and hope Barcelona hold on to their lead and win the match.
New Betting Apps
Many international operators have been in the betting market for a long time. However, when they enter a new market by getting a local licence, they are still considered to be newcomers. Let’s find which betting companies in the Kenyan betting market are now a “newbies”.
Melbet
Melbet started working with Kenyan customers and accepting their bets in August 2020 and has managed to gain their trust in that time. This is largely due to the fact that it offered one of the best user-friendly betting apps and a generous welcome bonus of 200% on your first deposit. The app supports the Cash Out option and the widely use M-Pesa payment system in Kenya.
Apps with the Best Odds
There is no doubt that all punters want to bet with the best odds and the lowest margin. That means you will win more money if you are successful. Match.Center experts conducted a study of the Kenyan market and highlighted the bookmakers with the greatest odds.
Betwinner
Do you pay a lot of attention to the odds before you make a bet? We’re glad to report that apart from 22bet, there’s another bookmaker in the Kenyan market with competitive odds. It’s Betwinner.
Yes, we can’t say for sure that it’s the bookmaker with the best odds. But when it comes to comparing Betwinner’s range of markets with its competitors (especially in football or rugby), you will often find that Betwinner’s odds are better.
Betting Apps with Bonuses
All bookmakers without exception want to attract as many new users to their app as possible. One way of doing that is by offering generous welcome bonuses to new users. In a wide variety of different bonuses for customers we have tried to choose the bookmakers with the best offers in the Kenyan market.
Betway
For local Kenyan punters, Betway is yet again proving its superiority in the market. In this case we are referring to their generous welcome offer for new customers. When a user makes a deposit of up to 5000 KES, the bookmaker will credit the user’s account with a bonus of 50% of the first deposit.
The bonus must be wagered three times by placing bets with odds of 3.00 or greater. You can make bets on any sport. You can place either an accumulator or a single. It’s important that the bonus is valid for 30 days.
Betwinner
Like other bookmakers who want to confidently take their place in Kenya’s betting market, Betwinner decided to keep up with this trend and offered new customers a top welcome offer – a 100% bonus on your first deposit of up to KES 15,000. That said, the minimum deposit amount is only 129 KES, and the bonus itself expires only in 30 days.
The wagering requirements for the bonus cannot be called strict:
- You must wager the bonus amount 5 times (x5).
- Only accumulator bets count. An accumulator must consist minimum of 3 selections with odds of 1.40 or greater.
The Best Football Betting Apps
Football is Kenya’s number one sport. So it should come as no surprise that many betting fans are only interested in the best football betting apps . We have analyzed the market and can safely say that the following sportsbook apps are among the most suitable ones for watching and betting on football.
Betwinner
Before entering the Kenyan betting market, Betwinner outlined their mission as to try and collect all the matches from the world’s professional football leagues and combine them into one app. To be honest, they’ve succeeded! Today, Betwinner’s list of markets for football is quite extensive. Football bets in its football betting app cover almost the entire globe from England to Australia. Among the leagues we can see in the app are the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, the African Nations Cup and even the Australian Premier League South Wales.
A distinctive feature of the bookmaker is the infographics on each match in the sport betting app. In other words, you can watch the ball moving across an imaginary field in real time and be aware of any dangerous moments in the field. Connecting to streaming video without live streaming is free of charge. All you need is to be a registered user and have some Kenyan shillings on your betting balance.
Best Football Analysis App for Betting
Football betting analysis apps are specialized programs that are designed to provide users with comprehensive analysis and insights into football matches, particularly for the purpose of betting. It offers various features and tools to assist bettors in making more accurate predictions.
This app aims to provide users with a variety of football-related information, such as team and player statistics, head-to-head records, recent form, injury updates, and other relevant data. It may also offer expert predictions, betting tips, and recommended strategies based on the analysis of professional analysts or algorithms.
As for whether such apps are available through bookmakers in Kenya, we have not found any Kenyan bookmakers that provide a dedicated app for football analysis. Although several features, such as statistics, live score, h2h and more are available in some of the betting apps. For example, Betika offers the app for Android and iOS devices, which has a comprehensive statistic, head to head, standings and timeline.
However, it’s important to remember that while football analysis apps can provide valuable information and analysis, they do not guarantee successful betting outcomes. Sports betting involves inherent risks, and it’s crucial for bettors to play responsibly, manage their bankroll wisely, and make decisions based on their own judgment and analysis in conjunction with the information provided by such apps. Also, make sure any app you use is from a reputable source (betting site, Google Play Store or App Store) to protect your personal information and financial data.
Betting Apps with Bonuses
All bookmakers without exception want to attract as many new users to their app as possible. One way of doing that is by offering generous welcome bonuses to new users. In a wide variety of different bonuses for customers, we have tried to choose the bookmakers with the best offers in the Kenyan market. A significant number of these platforms, in fact, are betting sites or betting apps with free bonus offerings, which provide an additional incentive for first-time users, allowing them to explore and get a feel for the betting platform.
Is It Safe to Bet in Apps Online?
Safety is of the utmost importance for punters who are thinking about starting to bet via sportsbook’s apps. This is especially important because most bookmakers in the local market are grey betting shops without a licence and it is dangerous to bet with them. So choose only those bookmakers that have been described by Match.Center experts and are featured in our best betting apps list in Kenya.
Betting through online sports betting apps is safer if the bookmaker has a valid licence issued by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) in Kenya. And that is exactly the kind of bookmakers we describe on our website. Kenya began issuing such licences to international operators in 2011. Among the bookmakers where you can safely and without fear place bets in Kenya are 22bet, Betway, Melbet, Betwinner, 888sports, Bet365 and other world-renowned bookmakers.
FAQ
Are betting apps legal in Kenya?
Yes. We are giving details only of Kenya’s legal sports betting apps, which are produced by licensed bookmakers. Accordingly, it is also legal and safe to bet in the apps of such bookmakers. The licensing and regulation of the industry is the responsibility of the Betting Control and Licensing Board in Kenya (BCLB).
What is the easiest mobile sports betting app to use?
Most often one of the three best betting apps in Kenya is mentioned: 22bet, Melbet or Betway. We wouldn’t say which one is the easiest to install or use. It’s very much a matter of habit. If you have an iPhone, you can download an app from the App Store. If you have an Android, the only option is to download the apk file from the bookmaker’s website, and then install the app on your smartphone.
What betting apps offer Cash Out?
Betway and 22bet have implemented the Cash Out feature in their app. In the Betway interface, the matches to which the function will apply are marked with a green “CO” button.