Kenya · Nigeria · Uganda · South Africa · Ghana

Gambling & Betting Licenses Across Africa

Your market-entry partner for B2B & B2C licences in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa. Advisory, company incorporation, resident director and end-to-end licence acquisition, with an optional platform bundle.

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Markets

Compare the markets

Five core African jurisdictions: the route to a licence, the taxes, the timeline and the one nuance that defines each. Scroll through them, then open any market.

Kenya cityscape

Kenya

East Africa's M-Pesa-powered betting hub

As at June 2026, a transition moratorium on new/renewal applications is in effect; an M-Pesa paybill also requires a valid licence, so no licence means no payments.

15% of GGR ≈ 3–5+ months
Explore Kenya
Nigeria cityscape

Nigeria

Among Africa's biggest, now licensed state-by-state

There is no single national licence. Coverage depends on FSGRN membership, and 10+ non-member states need separate licensing.

11% flat GGR Lagos ≈ 4–6 weeks
Explore Nigeria
Uganda cityscape

Uganda

A closed market: enter by acquisition

A moratorium on NEW licences has stood since 2019, so entry is by acquisition only. Minimum age is 25, and NITA-U + NCEMS connection are required.

30% of GGR 21-day statutory window
Explore Uganda
South Africa cityscape

South Africa

Sports betting only, and B-BBEE decides

Online casino is illegal; the NGB's Feb-2026 RGS crackdown targets casino-style games offered under betting licences; B-BBEE is the key practical differentiator.

~6–9% provincial betting tax ≈ 6–12 months
Explore South Africa
Ghana cityscape

Ghana

One of West Africa's largest online markets

No standalone B2B licence: suppliers must work through a licensed operator, and a resident director and 10% local ownership are mandatory.

20% of GGR ≈ 2–3 months
Explore Ghana

Full-service market entry

Everything you need to get licensed and live

Pick the pieces you need, or hand us the whole launch.

Jurisdiction selection & feasibility

We compare regimes, taxes and timelines and recommend the right market and licence class for your model.

Local company incorporation

Registration of a compliant local entity, including memorandum/articles and registered office.

Nominee & resident-director provision

A vetted resident/local director to satisfy genuine-presence rules — structured for full beneficial-ownership transparency.

Tax registration

Tax identification, gaming-tax and VAT registration with the local revenue authority.

UBO & fit-and-proper dossier

Preparation of beneficial-ownership disclosures and the probity/background-check pack regulators require.

Licence application & regulator liaison

Drafting and submission of the application and ongoing liaison with the regulator through to grant.

AML / KYC policy

Anti-money-laundering and KYC policies aligned to local law and FIU reporting requirements.

Responsible-gambling policy

Self-exclusion, deposit limits, age verification and responsible-gaming compliance.

Renewals & ongoing compliance

Annual renewals, regulatory reporting and compliance audits so your licence stays live.

Become the next licensed operator in Africa

30 minutes, licensing only. We'll name the market that fits your model, the fees and capital it demands, and how long the grant realistically takes.

Book a licensing call

African licensing FAQ

Common questions about getting licensed across Africa.

We specialise in the five core markets (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa) and are expanding across the continent, with Tanzania next. Each market has its own page with the regulator, taxes, fees, timeline and requirements.
An offshore licence gives you a website, not market access. Local payment rails (M-Pesa, mobile money, local banks) and regulators require the national licence, and without it you can't legally take deposits and you're one enforcement action from being cut off. We do the harder national route.
Yes. Several markets legally require genuine local presence (Ghana mandates a resident director and 10% local ownership; Kenya vets every director and UBO). We provide a vetted resident/nominee director structured for full beneficial-ownership transparency.
Optionally. We can bundle SMPL Core's casino platform, game aggregator, payments and hosting with the licence so you launch under one SLA, but it's never forced; licensing stands on its own.
It varies by market: Nigeria's Lagos route can be ~4–6 weeks (2–4 months for multi-state coverage), Ghana and Kenya run ~2–5 months, and South Africa's probity takes 6–12 months. Uganda is entry-by-acquisition, so its timeline is driven by the deal. We give you a realistic timeline for your target market up front.
Costs range widely, from modest provincial fees in South Africa to a ₦100M annual FSGRN fee in Nigeria and KES 100M minimum capital in Kenya. Each country page lists the indicative government fees, minimum capital and bank guarantees; we then budget the all-in cost (fees, capital, our work and any optional platform) for your model.
Gaming taxes differ by market: Ghana 20% of GGR, Kenya 15% of GGR plus levies, Nigeria 11% flat GGR (from 2026), Uganda 30% of GGR (from July 2026) and South Africa a ~6–9% provincial betting tax. Withholding taxes on winnings also vary by country. We register you for the right taxes and handle the filings.
It depends on the market. Nigeria allows 100% foreign ownership; Kenya exempts online-only foreign operators from its 30% local-ownership rule; Ghana requires a 10% Ghanaian shareholding and a resident director; South Africa permits foreign ownership but B-BBEE scoring strongly favours local participation. We structure the entity to fit each rule.
A B2C operator licence lets you take bets or run games for players; a B2B supplier licence covers software/platform providers and equipment suppliers. Some markets (Kenya, Uganda, South Africa) have explicit B2B categories, while others (Ghana, Nigeria) have no standalone B2B licence, so suppliers reach the market through a licensed operator. We structure whichever route fits you.
Licences are renewed (usually annually), and you must maintain AML/KYC and responsible-gambling controls, regulatory and financial reporting, technical and monitoring-system connections, and fee payments. We handle renewals and ongoing compliance so your licence stays live.
Our country guides are built from official regulators (Ghana's Gaming Commission, Kenya's GRA, Nigeria's state regulators / FSGRN, Uganda's NLGRB, South Africa's provincial boards), leading gambling-law guides (Chambers, CMS, Bowmans) and industry press (iGaming Business, iGaming Afrika, H2 Gambling Capital). Each country page lists its specific sources and the date its figures were last verified.

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Disclaimer: This page is general information about gambling licensing across our markets. It is not legal, tax or financial advice and does not create a client relationship. SMPL Core is a market-entry and licensing consultancy, not a law firm or licensed legal practice; regulated legal and tax services are delivered through qualified local professionals. Laws, taxes, fees and timelines change frequently and some figures are indicative, so verify any figure with the relevant regulator or a qualified local adviser before acting. We do not facilitate any arrangement intended to conceal beneficial ownership or circumvent local-ownership requirements.

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