The integration of fintech and esports betting is transforming East Africa’s digital economy, positioning the region as a key growth zone within Africa’s broader iGaming ecosystem. By mid-2025, Kenya, the region’s leading hub, is projected to reach approximately $831 million in sports betting revenue, with esports wagering contributing 10 –15 percent of total betting volumes. This growth aligns with a 6.1 percent CAGR in sports betting across East Africa. It is driven largely by mobile money platforms, rising smartphone adoption, and regulatory structures that enhance the efficiency of digital payments.
Kenya’s Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) accelerated this shift in 2025 through the Gambling Control Act, which introduced stricter licensing protocols for online betting, virtual gaming, and digital wagering platforms. The Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill further supported the sector by regulating cryptocurrency use in gaming, enabling faster wallet verification processes, and limiting offshore transaction risks.
In Uganda, fintech has become a foundation for betting innovation. With around 191 active fintech startups as of mid-2025, supportive policies such as the National Payment Systems Act have enabled micro-payment infrastructure tailored for esports and sports betting applications. Tanzania mirrors this fintech adoption through mobile money systems like Tigo Pesa and Airtel Money, which function similarly to M-Pesa. These platforms allow esports betting via both apps and USSD codes, reaching an estimated 20–25 million underserved adults. Tanzania’s iGaming market is forecasted to hit $7.37 million in 2025, with more than 70 percent of betting now conducted online due to increased smartphone penetration.
Across East Africa, betting activity has become highly digital and transactional. Regional betting volumes exceed 10 million transactions per quarter. These trends underscore how East Africa is emerging as a fintech–gaming powerhouse, poised for sustained double-digit growth as regulatory clarity and mobile access continue to expand.
