Esports Betting: Kenya Licenses, ESIC Ties & LatAm Rules Advance
Liam Fletcher 
Key Takeaways
- Regulatory enforcement in Africa and Latin America advances compliance for operators offering esports betting markets.
- ESIC strengthens integrity partnerships with betting platforms to combat match-fixing globally.
- European innovation emerges as Gibraltar approves first prediction markets license with potential esports applications.
Kenya Approves 99 Gaming Operators for 2025/2026 Fiscal Year
Kenya’s Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has formally approved 99 gaming companies, including leading operators like 1x Bet, Betika, Sport Pesa, Melbet, and BC.Game, to operate during the 2025/2026 financial year. This licensing round follows a transitional period toward the new Gambling Regulatory Authority and emphasizes stricter compliance, responsible gambling, and anti-money laundering standards.
For the esports betting sector, the approvals provide regulatory certainty in a high-growth African market, enabling licensed platforms to confidently offer markets on popular titles such as CS2, Dota 2, and League of Legends. Stakeholders see this as a stabilizing factor likely to boost legitimate betting volumes while reducing unlicensed operators.
Source: Afri Gaming Bulletin / BCLB
Rollbit Becomes ESIC Tier 1 Anti-Corruption Partner
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has welcomed cryptocurrency betting platform Rollbit as its newest Tier 1 Anti-Corruption Partner. Announced in late 2025 and active into 2026, the partnership enhances real-time monitoring, data sharing, and enforcement against match-fixing and suspicious betting patterns in esports competitions worldwide.
This collaboration reflects growing alignment between operators and integrity bodies, crucial for protecting betting markets on Valve, Riot, and other publisher titles. It strengthens trust for tournament organizers and licensed operators by improving detection of esports-specific risks such as proposition bets and in-play wagering.
Source: ESIC Official
Brazil Progresses B2B Supplier Recognition for Betting Platforms
Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF) continues advancing its regulatory framework with public consultations and implementation steps for B2B provider recognition. The rules target suppliers of betting systems, platforms, data services, and KYC tools supporting licensed operators under Law 14,790, with clear implications for esports betting technology providers.
This development solidifies Brazil’s position as Latin America’s leading regulated market, requiring local compliance while enabling innovation in live esports betting and specialized data feeds. Operators and suppliers now have clearer pathways for sustainable expansion.
Source: iGaming Brazil / SPA/MF
Gibraltar Licenses First Prediction Markets Operator
Gibraltar has granted its first prediction markets license to Predict Street Ltd under the 2005 Gambling Act, positioning the jurisdiction as an early adopter of innovative betting formats in Europe. The operator, linked to FIFA World Cup 2026 partnerships, signals openness to new products that could extend into esports event forecasting.
The move highlights adaptive regulation that may influence how prediction-style wagering integrates with traditional esports betting markets while maintaining strong integrity oversight.
