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Kenya's leading sportsbook, built around deep M-Pesa integration and mass-market accessibility
Visit Betika →Betika welcome bonus in Nigeria
Context for Nigeria: Nigeria changed who licenses betting, and the old answer is still the one most sites give you. On 22 November 2024 the Supreme Court nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 in its entirety, holding that the National Assembly had no constitutional power to legislate on lotteries and games of chance - these are residual matters belonging to the STATES. The practical consequence is that the National Lottery Regulatory Commission is no longer the nationwide authority: its remit is now limited to the Federal Capital Territory, and an NLRC licence issued before the ruling is not a valid basis for multi-state operation. So if an operator's footer, or an affiliate page, offers 'NLRC licensed' as proof it is legal where you live, that assurance is out of date. What counts now is a licence from YOUR state's gaming regulator, or a Universal Reciprocity Certificate from the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN) - and the URC only covers FSGRN member states, of which there are around 22, so a significant number of states sit outside it entirely. Betting itself remains legal in Nigeria; it is the paperwork that moved. Some legal uncertainty is still unresolved, including what regularisation means for operators licensed under the old federal regime, so check your own state's regulator before you treat any licence claim as settled.
Here is the current Betika welcome offer for players in Nigeria. Bonus terms change and are set by Betika for each market — always confirm the live offer on its own site. See every licensed betting site in Nigeria →
Nigeria changed who licenses betting in November 2024
On 22 November 2024 the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in Attorney General of Lagos State & Ors v Attorney General of the Federation & Ors (Suit No. SC/1/2008), unanimously nullified the National Lottery Act 2005. A seven-member panel held that the National Assembly had no power to legislate on lotteries and games of chance, so the Act - and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission it created - now applies only within the Federal Capital Territory. Regulating betting elsewhere in Nigeria is exclusively a matter for state governments.
What that means when you read any Nigerian review, including ours: an NLRC licence number no longer establishes, on its own, that an operator is authorised in your state. Many of our Nigerian pages still describe licensing in NLRC terms because that was the framework when they were written, and we are working through them. Check your own state regulator's list - for example the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority - before you deposit.
Pros
- Deep, native M-Pesa integration used by 90% of its user base
- Kenya's leading sportsbook by user base, over 2 million customers
- Broad product: sportsbook, casino, virtuals, crash games
- Wide African footprint across 10 countries
- Established, widely recognised local brand
Cons
- No specific public BCLB licence number found
- Best suited to Kenyan/East African payment habits, less relevant elsewhere
- Bonus terms and product availability vary by market
- Casino/virtuals secondary to the core sportsbook
Our verdict
Betika started in 2016 as a simple SMS-only betting service in Nairobi and has grown into Kenya's leading sportsbook, now serving over 2 million customers with 90% of them paying via M-Pesa — a deep, native mobile-money integration (Paybill 290290) that's core to its success. Owned by Shop and Deliver Limited and co-founded by Kenyan entrepreneur Chris Mwirigi, Betika is licensed by Kenya's Betting Control and Licensing Board, though a specific public licence number wasn't found in research, a minor transparency gap for an otherwise well-established and widely recognised operator. Beyond Kenya, Betika has expanded into Tanzania, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Uganda and Malawi. If you're in one of its African markets and want a sportsbook built specifically around local payment habits, Betika is a genuinely trusted, mass-market choice.
How we rated it
Payments & payouts (20%)8.5
Deep, native M-Pesa integration (Paybill 290290) built directly into the app, used by 90% of its 2M+ customers, plus Airtel Money, scratch cards and banking.
Mobile & UX (10%)7.8
Started as an SMS-only service in 2016, evolving into a full mobile-first app built around M-Pesa payment flows.
Sportsbook & odds (25%)7.6
Comprehensive sportsbook plus casino, virtuals and crash games, tailored to Kenyan and East African bettors.
Bonuses & value (15%)7.2
Locally denominated welcome offers competitive within its African market segment.
Customer support (10%)7.2
Established support infrastructure backing one of Kenya's largest sportsbooks by user base.
Trust & licensing (20%)7
Licensed by Kenya's Betting Control and Licensing Board under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act CAP 131, though no specific public licence number was found — a minor transparency gap, though the operator is well-established and widely recognised in Kenya.
Quick facts
| Founded | April 2016, in Nairobi, Kenya (started as SMS-only) |
| Owner | Shop and Deliver Limited; co-founder Chris Mwirigi |
| Licensing | Kenya Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act CAP 131 |
| Sports | Sportsbook, casino, virtuals, crash games |
| Payments | M-Pesa (Paybill 290290, native app integration — 90% of users), Airtel Money, scratch cards, banking |
| Markets | Kenya (leader), Tanzania, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi |
| Scale | Over 2 million customers |
| Support | Established, one of Kenya's largest sportsbooks |
How we verified this
Betika is licensed by Kenya's Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act CAP 131. A specific public licence number was not found in research. Its welcome offers and bonus terms vary by country; confirm current details on Betika's own local site. Kenya update: the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has been superseded by the Gambling Regulatory Authority under the Gambling Control Act 2023, and licence processing was suspended during the transition, so any BCLB licence referenced here should be re-verified with the Gambling Regulatory Authority.
Where Betika is licensed
Betika appears on the official register in 9 countries. Highlighted countries have a full local review — pick yours for its welcome bonus and licence details.
About Betika
Betika is a sportsbook founded in April 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, starting as a simple SMS-only betting service before evolving into a leading mobile-first app. It is owned by Shop and Deliver Limited, co-founded by Kenyan entrepreneur Chris Mwirigi, and licensed by Kenya's Betting Control and Licensing Board under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act CAP 131. Betika built its dominant position in Kenya around deep, native M-Pesa integration — 90% of its 2 million-plus customers pay via M-Pesa — and has since expanded into Tanzania, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Uganda and Malawi.
Betika FAQ
Is Betika safe and legit?
Betika is licensed by Kenya's Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act CAP 131, and is one of Kenya's largest and most established sportsbooks with over 2 million customers.
How do I deposit on Betika?
Betika is built around deep, native M-Pesa integration (Paybill 290290), used by 90% of its customers, alongside Airtel Money, scratch cards and standard banking.
Which countries does Betika operate in?
Betika leads in Kenya and has expanded into Tanzania, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Uganda and Malawi.
Who owns Betika?
Betika is owned by Shop and Deliver Limited, co-founded by Kenyan entrepreneur Chris Mwirigi.
What is the Betika welcome bonus?
Betika offers welcome and promotional offers that vary by country. Check the current terms on Betika's own local site.