How USSD betting works in Kenya and how to use it safely
USSD is a text menu opened by dialling a code on the phone, with no app or internet needed. Kenyan rules require a licensee's terms to state its paybill numbers, shortcodes and USSD numbers. Safe use means taking the code from the operator's approved terms, never from a message.
The short answer
USSD is a way of using a phone through a short code that opens a menu of numbered choices. You type a reply, the menu moves on, and the session ends when you finish or stop. It does not need an installed app, which is why people with a basic handset use it.
The law does not forbid or approve USSD as such. It treats the USSD number as one of the operating details a licensee must declare. The wider mechanics of paying a gambling account are in the guide on how mobile money deposits to gambling accounts work.
What the rules say about USSD numbers
The Conduct of Gambling Operations Regulations, 2026 require a licensee to submit its terms and conditions to the Authority for approval (r.4(1)). Those terms must include "paybill numbers, Shortcodes, USSD numbers for operations" (r.4(2)(e)), together with deposit mechanisms, the method of paying winnings and the complaints mechanism.
This gives you a practical test. A USSD number that the operator really uses should appear in terms that the Authority has approved, not only in a chat message or a poster. Whether a given operator offers USSD at all is something only its own terms can answer, and the register of licensed companies does not list channels.
What stays the same on USSD
A different channel does not change the player's legal position. The table sets out the rules read for this guide and how they apply when you use a menu instead of an app.
| Rule | Source | On USSD |
|---|---|---|
| Player must be registered and hold an account | Act s.72(1) | The menu acts on an existing registered account |
| Proof of age of majority before registration | Act s.72(3) | Age is checked at registration, not at each dial |
| Minimum online bet of twenty shillings | Act s.71(1) | No separate USSD minimum appears in the Act |
| Particulars of any processing fee must be made available | Act s.72(6)(b) | Ask for the fee details before you use the menu |
| Numbers for operations sit in approved terms | Regulations r.4(1), r.4(2)(e) | Verify a code against the terms |
| Customer care centre must handle complaints | Regulations r.9 | Use it for a failed or doubtful transaction |
The register of licensed companies describes the 2025/26 trading period and its page was last modified on 2026-03-19, so open the live page before you rely on a licence.
How to use a USSD menu safely
- Confirm the operator is licensed
Look for the company on the regulator's live list first. A code from an unlicensed party has no approved terms behind it.
- Take the code from the approved terms
Read the paybill, shortcode or USSD number in the operator's terms and conditions on its approved domain. Type the domain yourself instead of following a link.
- Dial it yourself
Do not tap a number in an SMS, a WhatsApp group or a social post. A tapped link can dial a different code from the one displayed.
- Read each screen before you reply
Check the name, the amount in KES and the account the menu shows. Stop if the name is not the one you expected.
- Enter your PIN only at a PIN prompt
A genuine menu asks for the PIN at the final step of a payment. A caller or a message asking for it, or for a one-time code, is not part of the process.
- Keep the confirmation
Do not delete the confirmation SMS. The guide on reading an M-PESA confirmation explains the fields to check.
Risks that apply to USSD in particular
A basic phone has fewer places to hide a fake. It also has no app store to filter copies and few visible warnings, so the weak points are the code you dial and the person who gave it to you. The table lists common patterns and a safer response.
| Pattern | Why it matters | Safer response |
|---|---|---|
| A message with a "new code" to load your account | The sender may be a fake agent, not the operator | Ignore it and check the approved terms |
| A caller who asks you to dial a code for them | Some codes forward calls or change settings on your line | End the call and dial nothing you were told to dial |
| A request for your PIN by SMS or voice | The PIN belongs only at the prompt | Never share it; change it if you did |
| Someone else holds or borrows your phone | A USSD session needs only the handset and PIN | Keep the handset locked; see the SIM swap guide |
| A pending request you did not start | It may be a stray or fraudulent prompt | Cancel it and review your statement |
Because USSD is tied to your SIM, the risk of a replacement SIM is real. The guide on protecting a gambling account from SIM swap sets out what to watch. For the message side, read the guide on recognising betting phishing SMS.
Illustrative example
Illustrative example: a message says "Dial this new code to top up, limited time". You check the five steps. The sender is unknown (fail step 2), the code is not in the operator's terms (fail step 2), it asks you to tap rather than type (fail step 3) and it sets a deadline. That is 3 of the 6 steps failing before any money moves, so you leave the message and open the terms yourself. The cost of stopping is KES 0.
When a USSD transaction goes wrong
Write down the time, the amount and the transaction code in the confirmation SMS. Contact the operator's customer care centre first, because the Regulations make it responsible for handling complaints and disputes before they go to the Authority (r.9(2)(c)). If the matter is not resolved, the centre must refer it to the Authority (r.9(2)(e)).
For a payment that left your wallet but is not on your account, see the guide on deposits deducted but not credited. A strong PIN also lowers the harm of a lost handset; the guide on setting a strong password and PIN covers it.
What this guide cannot confirm
This guide did not read any network operator's pages on USSD fees, limits or menu steps, because those pages could not be opened. It therefore gives no fees, no limits and no codes. Check them with your network provider directly.
18+. Gambling is addictive. Play responsibly, and if gambling is causing you harm, see the responsible gambling page for the GRA toll-free line.
Questions and answers
Does the law mention USSD for gambling?
Yes, in two places in the 2026 regulations. The Conduct of Gambling Operations Regulations, 2026 (r.4(2)(e)) list "paybill numbers, Shortcodes, USSD numbers for operations" among the items a licensee's terms and conditions must contain. The Authority's advertising authorization form also lists USSD/SMS as a medium of advertisement.
Can I find the correct USSD code in a message someone sent me?
Treat a code received in a message as unverified. The regulations place the operator's numbers in its terms and conditions, which the Authority approves (r.4(1)). Read the code in those terms, then dial it yourself.
Is there a fee for betting by USSD?
This guide does not state any fee. The Gambling Control Act, 2025 (s.72(6)(b)) requires a licensee to give a player the particulars of any processing fee that may be incurred. Ask for those particulars in writing and read your network's own charges separately.
Is the minimum bet different on USSD?
No difference appears in the Act. Section 71(1) sets a minimum of twenty shillings for a bet in an online gambling activity, and the rule is not split by channel.
Do I still need to be registered and over 18?
Yes. Section 72(1) of the Act says a person may not take part as a player unless registered and holding an account, and s.72(3) requires proof of age of majority before registration. A menu on a basic phone does not change that.
What if a USSD transaction went wrong?
Keep the confirmation message and contact the operator's customer care centre, which must handle complaints (Regulations r.9). Unresolved matters go to the Authority, and a licensee must have approved internal dispute resolution (r.103).
Sources
- Gambling Control (Conduct of Gambling Operations) Regulations, 2026, rr.4, 9, 103, accessed 2026-11-04
- Gambling Control Act, 2025, ss.71, 72, accessed 2026-11-04
- Gambling Regulatory Authority: licensed gaming companies, trading period 2025/26 (page last modified 2026-03-19), accessed 2026-11-04
- Communications Authority of Kenya: home page (consumer protection section), accessed 2026-11-04