Kenya has a lot of untapped potential with regard to gambling and sports betting. That’s why companies like betPawa are continuously growing their customer base in the country. Since its inception in 2016, this bookmaker has served millions of players in Kenya, a number that increases by the day.
Why do Kenyans prefer betting at betPawa? We will see in a few.
In this betPawa review, we will discuss the sportsbook’s bonuses, security, odds, markets, and mobile app, to name a few. There’s a lot to discuss here, so let’s start.
- Website:
- Foundation:2016
- Licenses:BCLB
- Min. Deposit:Ksh. 1
- Support: ke@betpawa.com
- Mobile App:Android
- Payment Method:
- Simple and modern website
- High odds
- Over 100 markets
- Professional customer support
- Mobile compatibility
- No casino
- No VIP program
- Few bonuses
betPawa Kenya Promotions and Bonuses
But there are a few of them. In fact, there is no welcome offer for new betPawa customers.
That said, here’s the only offer you can claim at betPawa kenya, at least for the moment:
1000% Win Boost
This bonus gives you up to 11x your stake. Here’s to claim it:
- Create a betPawa account
- Deposit as low as Ksh. 1
- Bet on at least 3 legs
- The more legs you bet on, the higher your win boost
The fact that you are eligible for the bonus with as low as least Ksh. 1 makes it irresistible. You can also get on virtual sports, though the boost percentage goes up to 610%. And lastly, markets, odds, or even the sport do not affect the bonus. As long as the stake has a minimum of 3 legs, you’re in!
betPawa kenya Betting (Sports)
Basketball and football are the only sports available to bet on at betPawa kenya. This makes the website quite different from most Kenyan betting sites that feature tens of sports.
As you may know, basketball and football are among Kenya’s most popular sports. It, therefore, makes sense why betPawa has not included less popular games such as futsal.
Under these two sports are hundreds of events to bet on daily. There are approximately 100 events in football and basketball. Nonetheless, this depends on the schedule of events. Sometimes, the number may be lower or higher than 100.
You can select the events based on leagues. Major leagues at betPawa include:
- English Premier League
- Bundesliga
- LaLiga
- Serie A
- Ligue 1
BetPawa also features other leagues based on their countries. There are over 80 countries, including:
- England
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- USA
Unfortunately, Kenya is not on the list. That means you won’t find the Kenyan Football League. However, this is a tiny issue as most Kenyans prefer betting on international football leagues, especially the EPL.
Besides leagues, you can use a search bar to find an event or tournament. The search bar is just beside betPawa’s logo at the top.
And once you select the match you want to bet on, betPawa provides a statistics panel where you can view the team’s previous performance, current form, standings and more. We had hoped for a function to save an event or market in favourites, but this bookie doesn’t have such.
Odds
Compared to other sportsbooks, betPawa offers relatively high odds. This means you’re likely to scoop big wins if you bet on the site. Let’s confirm this.
The comparison table below shows the odds between betPawa and two other well-known Kenyan sportsbooks. These odds were offered on a match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, played on 13th May 2023:
| Sportsbook | Aston Villa Win | Draw | Tottenham Hotspurs Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| betPawa | 2.40 | 3.65 | 3.10 |
| Shabiki | 2.37 | 3.60 | 3.00 |
| Betika | 2.42 | 3.50 | 3.00 |
As you can see, betPawa’s odds are higher than those offered in the two other sportsbooks. Another thing you’ll appreciate about this site is its odds are still high, even during live events.
Having said that, the betting site offers odds of as low as 1.05. They are in decimal format. Others, like fraction formats, are not available on the site. It’s not a big issue, though, since most Kenyan bettors are used to the decimal format.
Betting Markets
betPawa offers 100+ betting markets on different sports. The main ones include Over/Under, Draw No Bet, and Double Chance. Handicap markets such as 3-Way Handicap are also available.
Worth noting, that these markets change from league to league. Let’s take an EPL match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, played on 13th May 2023. The number of markets available before the match kicked off was over 71.
Let’s take another league, this time, the Liga Panamena de Futbol. Under this league, let’s take a match between CD Plaza Amador Panama City and CA Independiente de La Chorrera. This match had only one market before the game started.
On average, the number of markets available in football at betPawa is 70. Basketball has fewer markets, about 45.
Live Betting and Live Streaming
You don’t have to confine yourself to pre-game bets. Trying another option like live betting doesn’t hurt. And betPawa kenya gives you that opportunity. All you need to do is go to the LIVE NOW section on the left, below the betPawa logo.
This section shows the number of ongoing events. You can bet on over 100 live games every day, depending on the schedule of the events.
The best part about live matches is their predictability. It is easier to predict these events compared to pre-game events.
Usually, the markets may increase or decrease during a game. Some may become invalid. For example, a No Goal market doesn’t apply if both teams have already scored.
Also, the odds may increase or decrease during the event. The odds of a seemingly losing team may increase and those of a team likely to win may decrease.
Importantly, there is no need to live-stream on a different platform after betting on betPawa. It’s possible to watch a game’s progress on the same platform.
To live-stream a match, head to the LIVE NOW section and click on the match you’d like to watch live. Let’s take a basketball match between UE Red Warriors and Adamson Falcons, for example.
Notably, you won’t hear sounds or see live pictures during the live event. However, you can still monitor the game’s progress and the position of the ball.
Even better, besides the live-stream box are the game’s statistics and a timeline of events. This is a great way to follow a game because it resembles listening to a commentator. The only difference is the timeline is in writing and there are no accompanying sounds.
Worth noting, that you should only use the statistics for reference. betPawa doesn’t guarantee the accuracy of the statistics of any live event.
Besides the statistics, you can see the lineups of each team. This is especially in football.
Bet Mentor
If you’re a first-timer and don’t know how to place a bet, don’t worry. BetPawa offers a step-by-step guide to get you started.
To access the bet mentor section, click the black LEARN HOW TO PLACE A BET icon on the right side of your screen. It’s below the menu. You can then follow the instructions on how to bet on sports.
Cash Out
At betPawa, you can cash out every 15 seconds. However, you need to be quick as markets and odds change in a jiffy, and this may affect your cash-out.
Here’s how to cash out:
- Place your bets and go to My Bets section on the menu
- Click the orange Cashout icon if it’s available. If it’s not, try again later.
- If you’re happy with the offer, click the Accept icon
The early cash out feature at betPawa is, without a doubt, one of a kind. It allows you to get up to 100% of your wager back before an event on your bet slip starts. All you need to do is follow the 3 steps above.
Payment Methods
The only payment method available at betPawa is M-Pesa. The site doesn’t offer other methods such as Airtel Money, cryptocurrencies, or e-wallets.
As said, M-Pesa is the only accepted method. That means you must cash in and cash out using the same method.
Speaking of deposits, the lowest amount you can pay at betPawa is Ksh. 1. That’s an accommodating amount for the average Kenyan bettor.
Additionally, you can deposit as high as Ksh. 70.000. This is the maximum amount at the site per transaction.
Payment | Min. Deposit | Min. Withdrawal | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ksh. 1 | Ksh. 10 | Instant |
When it comes to withdrawals, betPawa allows withdrawals as low as Ksh. 10. Like deposits, this is a sensible amount that considers Kenyans on a low budget.
Regarding the maximum amount, you can withdraw up to Ksh. 150.000. Remember, this is the highest amount per transaction.
Away from that, betPawa doesn’t charge any deposit or withdrawal fees. You should, however, note that a 20% tax fee applies to all your winnings. This is a mandatory tax rate in all sportsbooks in Kenya.
betPawa Kenya App
You don’t always have to access betPawa on a desktop or laptop. You can place bets whenever you like on your smartphone via the betPawa mobile app.
Unfortunately, the app is only available for Android smartphone users. Currently, there’s no betPawa app for iOS users. The good news is most Kenyan bettors have Android phones.
To download betPawa’s mobile app, head to the menu on the right and select the DOWNLOAD APP option. It’s between the NEWS and HELP options.
Upon clicking on the DOWNLOAD APP option, you’ll be redirected to another page where you can read the instructions on how to download the app.
Worth mentioning, that you don’t need sizable space on your smartphone to get the app. It’s only 2.5MB.
Additionally, betPawa’s app runs on a wide range of Android versions. But your phone should be running on a 4.4 Android version or higher.
It’s also good to mention the app is only available on betPawa’s official website. You can’t find it on Google Play Store. For safety purposes, it’s best to download the app on the official site and nowhere else.
But why use the betPawa mobile app?
Here are some of the advantages that come with the betPawa app:
Auto-login
It’s cumbersome to enter a password each time you log into a site. It’s even riskier, especially if you save passwords.
Luckily, with the betPawa app, you don’t need to memorize your passwords. Once you’ve logged in, that’s it. There won’t be a need to log in again.
Fewer Data Bundles Needed
Most Kenyan bettors have been asking about a free data feature. While betPawa is working on introducing the feature, you can minimise data usage by downloading the app.
The betPawa app’s data bundle consumption is low. That means you can spend more time on the site without depleting your bundles.
Notifications
If you place a bet via betPawa’s web-based version, you can’t receive notifications. That means you won’t even know if you’ve won.
Fortunately, with the betPawa app, you can receive instant alerts. All you have to do is turn on notifications and get the updates.
If you’re an iOS user or dislike downloading apps, there’s no problem. You can use betPawa’s web-based mobile version.
To access the site, you only need to enter betPawa’s web address on your browser. The good thing is there’s no limit in terms of your phone’s screen size when accessing the site. It works flawlessly regardless of your smartphone’s screen size.
The mobile web-based version of betPawa works like that of the PC. There’s not much difference when it comes to design.
How to Create Account
Setting up a betPawa account is kid’s play. Typically, it takes about 20 seconds to do so. They don’t request verification documents at this stage.
That said, here’s how to set up your betPawa account:
- Click on the green JOIN NOW icon on the top left of the homepage
- Enter your Safaricom mobile number
- Create your password (0-9 digits)
- Hit the green JOIN NOW icon
Upon joining the site, you can deposit immediately. As we said, you need to enter your Safaricom mobile number. That’s because betPawa doesn’t support Airtel or Telkom.
Customer Support
BetPawa has a good reputation when it comes to dealing with customers. Customer care here is professional, sociable, and knowledgeable.
There are 5 ways to contact betPawa’s customer care staff. You only need to scroll to the bottom of the site’s homepage and click the Help option. Alternatively, you can go to the menu and select the Help option.
Facebook Messenger
BetPawa agents are pretty active on Facebook. They reply to almost all comments from players in their news feed.
Likewise, betPawa’s Facebook customer representatives respond to any queries you may have. The response time via Facebook Messenger is almost instant.
Upon clicking the Send Message icon on betPawa’s Facebook page, you’ll receive an auto-generated message from the bookie. This message informs you of an oncoming agent.
Telegram
Like Facebook, there’s no set time to contact betPawa’s customer agents on Telegram. You can reach out at any time of day or night.
Since betPawa is a Kenyan betting site, you can use Swahili or English. The agent will respond in whatever language you’re comfortable with. Of course, it has to be English or Swahili.
On top of that, the response time via Telegram is pretty quick. Typically, you can expect feedback in less than 2 minutes.
Another option for contacting betPawa’s customer support is email. You can drop them an email at ke@betpawa.com at any time, whether day or night.
They’ll send an auto-generated email informing you they’ve received your email. You’ll then need to wait (not longer than 3 hours) before getting a response from an agent.
Again, you don’t have to chat with a betPawa agent in English. You can use Swahili or mix the two. Either way, you’ll still get a response.
Phone
The telephone number for contacting betPawa customer support is 0711 082 233. It’s not toll-free. You’ll, therefore, need to load some airtime for the phone to go through.
Like the other contact options, there’s no set time for calling betPawa’s customer care agents. They work 24/7. So, you can call them at night or during the day.
Worth noting, you don’t have to call the customer care staff at betPawa. You can request a callback and they’ll gladly reach out immediately.
To request a call, navigate the Help section at betPawa. You’ll spot a green CALL ME icon below the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the site.
Speaking of FAQs…
FAQs
The easiest way to find answers to your queries is by reading the Frequently Asked Questions about betPawa. The site features over 15 well-answered questions.
You’re likely to find answers to your questions in this section. It comprises the usual questions most players ask.
Design and Navigation
BetPawa’s website design looks modern and simple. There’s not much going on which makes the website easy on the eyes. Also, the black, white, and green colours blend quite perfectly, by the way.
Navigating the site is child’s play. BetPawa’s logo is on the top left, with the menu on the right. The betPawa LOGIN and JOIN NOW icons are also on the right and a search bar is at the centre.
Besides the simple website design, betPawa’s pages load quickly. This makes it easier to transition from one page to another.
There have been complaints about slow loading times. However, it seems they have fixed the issue, as everything loads quickly now.
Security and Reputation
Whenever betting online, security is paramount. Why, you ask? Gambling involves sharing personal information and depositing real money. Of course, you don’t want to risk your money and personal information, right?
Fortunately, betPawa is a secure Kenyan online betting site. The platform employs encryption technology to protect all your data. To confirm this, click on the padlock icon at betPawa’s web address.
You can submit your financial information and passwords on the site without worry. That’s because betPawa has a valid security certificate from a reputable authority.
Reputation
When it comes to reputation, betPawa has a perfect one, no doubt. Whenever you mention the site, you’ll hear compliments about it.
Additionally, with millions of Kenyans placing their bets on betPawa, what more evidence could you possibly ask for?
Licensing
BetPawa is a fully licensed sports betting site in Kenya. It holds a Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) licence (no. 0000414).
Most betting sites display their licensing information at the bottom of their home pages. However, betPawa doesn’t.
You can find the site’s licensing information on BCLB’s official website. Here, you will see betPawa’s licence number, company name, domain name, and paybill number.
Since betPawa has a BCLB licence, it means the site complies with all the laws of the regulatory body. This includes paying taxes and creating a safe gambling environment for Kenyan bettors.
FAQ's: Frequently Asked Questions
The lowest amount you can deposit at betPawa is Ksh. 1. You can also cash in as high as Ksh. 70.000 per transaction.
No, betPawa doesn’t have a welcome offer. The only offer available on the site is the 1000% Win Boost offer.
M-Pesa is the only available payment method at betPawa. They don’t accept Airtel Money, e-wallets, or cryptocurrencies.
Yes, betPawa has a mobile app. However, it’s only available for Android users. If you have an iOS device, you can use the web-based version of betPawa.
No, betPawa doesn’t have a free data feature. However, you can save on bundles by downloading the betPawa app. It consumes less data bundles.
Final Evaluation
After going through betPawa with a fine comb, we give it a 4.0/5 rating. The reasons are clear. First, the site has few bonuses, which is disappointing to most Kenyan bettors.
Still, on bonuses, the site doesn’t have a VIP club. The VIP program can be a great way to treat high-roller Kenyan bettors.
Additionally, betPawa doesn’t have a casino. That means a Kenyan bettor who also loves to play casino games must look elsewhere.
The sportsbook has an app, which is commendable. However, it’s only available to Android users. Although most Kenyan bettors have Android smartphones, it’s best to consider iOS users as well.
Also, betPawa should at least try to incorporate more sports such as rugby, tennis, and boxing. This will serve thousands of Kenyans who are fanatics of these sports.
Without forgetting, betPawa should come up with special features such as the free data feature. This will cater to players who are low on bundles.
All in all, betPawa is a great betting site. Despite the shortcomings, it offers high odds, over 100 markets, and professional customer support.
