The Association of Gaming Operators of Kenya has asked the Treasury to set one 20% tax on land-based casinos' gross gaming revenue. It made the request at a meeting with Treasury and Kenya Revenue Authority officials on 2 November, ahead of the Finance Bill 2027.
What AGOK is asking for
AGOK wants land-based casinos taxed at a single 20% rate on gross gaming revenue, the amount a casino keeps after paying out winners. Its case is that a casino is a different business from online betting: players buy chips, move between tables, and cash out at different times, so one clear rate is easier for both sides to calculate and audit than today's mix of charges.
AGOK took the request to the National Treasury and the Kenya Revenue Authority on 2 November. AGOK also wants the existing 5% excise duty on deposits kept as it is, and it has asked for clearer rules on how a "deposit" and a "withdrawal" are defined after changes in the Finance Act 2026 left operators unsure how to treat deposit bonuses.
A separate fight over winnings
AGOK's GGR proposal is not the only tax question in play. A different measure, a 20% tax on player winnings, is opposed by the Gaming Regulatory Authority itself. The regulator says taxing non-cash prizes, such as electronics or spa treatments, has no workable way to collect. Treat the two as separate: one is a proposed rate on casino revenue, the other a disputed rate on what players win.
Where this leaves operators
Nothing has changed yet. The 20% GGR figure is AGOK's proposal, not law, and the Finance Bill 2027 process is still ahead. Kenyan operators already pay excise duty on stakes, withholding tax on winnings, corporate tax and licence fees, so a single clear casino rate would replace part of that stack rather than add to it, if the Treasury agrees. AGOK has engaged the Treasury before on a wider push for a balanced tax framework; this is the first time a specific rate and meeting date have been put on record.
FAQ
What rate is AGOK proposing?
A single 20% tax on land-based casinos' gross gaming revenue.
Is this the same as the 20% winnings tax?
No. The winnings tax is a separate measure that the Gaming Regulatory Authority itself opposes.
Has the Treasury agreed to it?
Not yet. It was presented at a 2 November meeting, and the Finance Bill 2027 has not been published.
