Kenya’s NLB and Gambling Regulatory Authority: Distinct but Complementary Gaming Roles
As Kenya prepares to establish its first National Lottery, clarity surrounding the institutional roles governing the country’s gaming sector is paramount.
On 20 August 2026, during her address at the announcement, of a consortium led by RSM Eastern Africa and QLOT Consulting as the official Transaction Advisor. Dr. Farida Karoney, EGH, Chairperson of the National Lottery Board, said: “As interest in the National Lottery grows, I am often asked how our work relates to the wider regulation of gaming in Kenya.”
In her speech, she outlined the structural relationship between the Board and the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) as separate legislative mandates that are both distinct and complementary.
The National Lottery Board was established under the National Lottery Act of 2023, with a sole, dedicated purpose to establish, oversee, and safeguard Kenya’s National Lottery, by procuring and contracting the National Lottery Operator, and administering the National Lottery Fund, which channels proceeds toward public good causes.
Defining this role, Dr. Karoney stated: “We are the custodian of the National Lottery on behalf of the people of Kenya.”
Meanwhile, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya was established under the Gambling Control Act of 2025. The Authority is tasked with licensing and regulating general gaming in Kenya, including betting, casinos, commercial gaming, and lotteries.
Read Also: National Lottery Board Appoints RSM Eastern Africa and QLOT Consulting as Transaction Advisors
The relationship between the NLB and the GRA is designed to create a system of dual oversight for the National Lottery’s chosen operator. The future National Lottery operator must operate within the broader national regulatory framework while maintaining direct accountability to the Board.
This includes ensuring regulatory compliance, as the operator will be licensed and supervised by the Gambling Regulatory Authority within the national framework. Additionally, the operator will remain contractually accountable to the National Lottery Board for the integrity, performance, and fulfillment of good-causes obligations of the lottery.
“So the two mandates are distinct, and they are complementary. One regulates a sector. The other builds and protects a single national instrument whose proceeds belong, by law, to the public,” she said.
Rather than working in isolation, the NLB works closely with the Gambling Regulatory Authority, the parent Ministry, and other State agencies to ensure cooperative governance. This clear division of responsibilities is intended to ensure that the public and media understand who manages each aspect of the system.
As Dr. Karoney explained:”I say this so that as you report on the National Lottery, the picture is clear, and so that Kenyans know exactly who is accountable for what.”
This structured governance model guarantees that, while general gaming continues to be regulated at a sector-wide level, the National Lottery remains protected as a dedicated, low-stakes public instrument focused strictly on community funding and responsible gaming.
