Government to Deduct SHA & Pension Fees Directly from Gamblers’ Every Bet
Millions of Kenyans will pay more for every bet they place as the government introduces mandatory deductions from betting stakes for health and pension contributions.
The new policy, reported by NTV Kenya, will channel part of the billions of shillings wagered every year into the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and a national pension scheme. It’s part of the broader Gambling Control Act of 2025 which gives regulators the power to design savings-linked betting policies.
Every stake placed through registered betting firms will have a compulsory contribution to SHIF or a social retirement fund. The deductions will be made automatically when you place a bet.
Officials say this will grow the membership base of SHIF which aims to provide universal medical cover for Kenyans. By tapping into the booming betting industry – worth over KES 150 billion a year – the government will capture revenue from a large informal group that often lacks health or retirement savings.
The state insurer has over KES 76 billion in unpaid bills to hospitals across the country, both public and private. Expanding the contribution base is seen as a key step to addressing that financial strain.
“Mandatory pension or SHIF payments will make betting costlier,” an NTV report noted, on the expected impact on punters.
Kenya has seen rapid growth in betting in recent years driven by youth participation. The country now has more active young gamblers than Nigeria and South Africa, according to the broadcaster’s findings.
Beyond revenue, the government says the initiative is also meant to promote savings culture among young people who rely on betting for income or entertainment.
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Government to Deduct SHA & Pension Fees Directly from Gamblers’ Every Bet