Are there M-Pesa charges on betting withdrawals?
The Gambling Control Act, 2025 does not set an M-Pesa withdrawal fee. It requires a licensed operator to make the particulars of any processing fee available to you, and it limits what the operator may take from your account. The amount, if any, comes from the operator's terms and the mobile-money provider's published tariffs.
Short answer
The law does not name an M-Pesa withdrawal fee, so there is no statutory figure to quote. What it does set is a disclosure duty and a short list of things an operator may do with your balance. How much, if anything, a withdrawal costs depends on the operator's terms and on the wallet provider's tariffs. Limits on the amounts that can move are covered in the guide on M-Pesa limits for betting deposits and withdrawals.
This guide gives no tariff numbers. The provider's tariff page could not be opened for checking when this guide was prepared, so the only safe rule is to read the figure on the provider's own current page.
Who can charge what
| Possible charge | Who sets it | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Operator processing fee | Operator, within its terms | Particulars must be made available to the player (Act s.72(6)(b)) |
| Operator's charges reported to the regulator | Operator | Particulars of charges to be levied must be given to the Authority (Act s.68(6)(b)) |
| Bank charges on deposits and withdrawals | Bank, paid by the licensee from the account | The licensee may pay bank charges for deposits received and funds withdrawn (Act s.75(c)) |
| Mobile-money transaction tariff | Wallet provider | Not set by the Act; published on the provider's tariffs page |
| Tax on winnings | Law | Separate from fees; see the tax guide linked below |
What the Act lets an operator do with your balance
Section 75 is the key rule. A licensee shall not deal with the amount standing to your credit except to debit a wager you made, to remit funds at your request, or to pay bank charges for deposits received and funds withdrawn.
The wording speaks of bank charges, not mobile-money tariffs. The sources read for this guide do not say whether a wallet tariff falls under that item, so do not assume it does. If a deduction appears that you cannot match to your terms, ask the operator which provision it relies on.
Section 72(6) adds that a licensee shall make available both the rules of its games and the particulars of any processing fee a player may incur. That is the sentence to point to when you ask where a fee is written down.
How the withdrawal path works
Section 73(4) lists mobile money transfer as a way for a licensee to receive funds, and section 76(1) lets it hold your money in a bank account or mobile money. The Third Schedule of the operations regulations sets how prizes are paid: small prizes up to KES 500,000 go to the registered mobile-money wallet or the gambling account, mid-size prizes use mobile money or bank transfer, and the largest use bank transfer only. Regulation 88(2) ties payment to that schedule. None of these provisions fixes a fee.
The central bank describes mobile money as part of the retail payment systems it oversees. Its page on the National Payments System explains that oversight role but does not list wallet tariffs. The same payment path is described in the guide on how mobile-money deposits reach a gambling account.
Find the charge that applies to you
- Read the operator's withdrawal terms
Look for a line on processing fees, minimum and maximum withdrawal amounts, and whether the fee is taken from the balance or from the amount sent.
- Read the wallet provider's current tariff page
Use the provider's own site for your wallet type and note the date on the page. The guide on how Airtel Money betting withdrawals work covers the same question for that provider.
- Compare the amount requested with the amount received
Your M-Pesa confirmation message shows the sum credited. The difference from the sum you asked for is the deduction to explain.
- Ask in writing if the difference is unclear
Request the fee particulars and the transaction record. The guide on how to get a betting account transaction statement explains what to ask for.
Illustrative example: you request a withdrawal of KES 1,000 and the wallet message shows KES 1,000 received, so there is no difference to explain. If it showed KES 980, the KES 20 gap (1,000 minus 980) is what you would ask the operator and the provider to account for.
Records that help if a fee is disputed
Keep the wallet confirmation message, the date and amount you requested, and the operator's reference for the withdrawal. Section 76(1) requires a licensee to maintain a register of all monies paid out to a punter, so a matching entry should exist on the operator's side. With both records in hand, customer care can trace the exact amount sent and any amount held back, and you can see whether the difference is a disclosed fee or something else.
When the money has not arrived
A missing payment is a different problem from a fee. Section 70(1) says a licensee shall within two days credit a monetary prize to the player's account, and delays after that point are explained in the guide on why a betting withdrawal is pending or failed.
Tax is also separate from fees. How a deduction on winnings shows on a payout is set out in the guide on tax on betting deposits and withdrawals.
Gambling is addictive. Play responsibly, and check every fee before you move money.
Questions and answers
Does the Gambling Control Act fix a fee for withdrawing to M-Pesa?
No. The Act and the 2026 operations regulations read for this guide contain no M-Pesa withdrawal tariff. Section 72(6)(b) only requires the licensee to make the particulars of any processing fee available to the player.
Can the operator take a fee out of my balance without telling me?
Section 75 allows a licensee to deal with your account balance only to debit wagers you direct, to remit funds at your request, and to pay bank charges for deposits received and funds withdrawn. Any processing fee must also be disclosed to you under section 72(6)(b).
Does the same rule apply to Airtel Money?
The Act refers to mobile money in general and does not name a provider. The disclosure duty and the limits on account deductions apply whichever wallet receives the payment, but each provider publishes its own tariffs.
Where do I see the exact amount before I withdraw?
In the operator's terms and withdrawal screen, and on the tariffs and limits page of the wallet provider. If neither states the amount, ask customer care in writing and keep the reply.
What if a charge was taken that I was never told about?
Ask the operator for the fee particulars and a statement of the transaction, and keep the replies. The guide on getting a betting account transaction statement explains what to request.
Sources
- Gambling Control Act, 2025 (No. 14 of 2025), ss.68(6)(b), 70(1), 72(6)(b), 73(4), 75, 76(1), accessed 2026-11-03
- Gambling Control (Conduct of Gambling Operations) Regulations, 2026, r.88 and Third Schedule, accessed 2026-11-03
- Central Bank of Kenya, National Payments System, accessed 2026-11-03