Betwinner is an international sportsbook and casino brand that is heavily advertised across Africa and South Asia. Before opening an account, many players ask a simple question: is it actually legal where I live? We checked the brand’s licence and the law in India, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa and Zambia. This is a consumer check, not a review: we do not link to the site and we do not recommend signing up.
Quick answer
The international Betwinner site operates under a licence from Curaçao, not under a licence from any of the six countries below. In India, Somalia and (for online casino) South Africa, this type of gambling is banned outright. In Kenya, South Africa (betting) and Zambia, a local licence is required and we could not find one for Betwinner. Nigeria is a grey area because licensing is now done state by state.
| Country | Local licence? | Status | Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | No (none possible) | Illegal: online money games banned since 2025 | Ministry of Electronics and IT; online gaming authority under the 2025 Act |
| Kenya | Not confirmed | Not licensed as far as we could verify | Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) |
| Nigeria | Not confirmed | Grey area: depends on the state | State gaming regulators (e.g. Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority) |
| Somalia | No | Not permitted: no licensing regime, gambling prohibited | None |
| South Africa | No | Illegal: online casino banned; betting needs a provincial licence | National Gambling Board and provincial boards |
| Zambia | Not found | Not licensed as far as we could verify | Zambia’s betting licensing authority |
Who operates Betwinner and which licence it holds
The operator’s licence page says the international Betwinner site is run by Prevailer B.V., a company incorporated in Curaçao (company number 149548, 17 Chuchubiweg, Willemstad). It gives the licence number OGL/2024/341/0759, issued by the Curaçao gaming regulator, and says the licence was granted on 28 March 2025. The same page names a Cyprus company, Harbesina Ltd, as the payment agent.
We checked this against the Curaçao Gaming Authority’s licence register. The online gaming register dated 21 September 2026 does list licence OGL/2024/341/0759 for Prevailer B.V. (B2C, company number 149548). However, the expiry column for that entry shows 28 March 2026, and the status column reads “Assessment in progress”. From the register alone we could not confirm that the licence is currently in full force.
Even a valid Curaçao licence only means the company is supervised in Curaçao. It does not give Betwinner the right to take bets in countries that require their own licence, and Curaçao’s regulator cannot help you with a dispute under your country’s consumer law.
Note on Ghana: Betwinner Ghana (betwinner.com.gh) is a separate company, Inter Omega Limited, licensed by the Gaming Commission of Ghana for 2026. That licence covers Ghana only and says nothing about the international site.
The law in each country
India
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (assented in August 2025) bans “online money games”, meaning any online game where users stake money expecting a return, whether it is based on skill, chance or both. It is an offence to offer them (up to three years in prison and/or a fine of up to ₹1 crore), to advertise them (up to two years and/or ₹50 lakh) or to process payments for them. The government can block access to such services. The Act does not impose penalties on individual players, but you would have no legal protection if a site refused to pay.
Kenya
Betting and casino operators need a licence from the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB). Some affiliate websites say Betwinner holds a Kenyan licence. We could not confirm this: the BCLB website was unreachable during our check, and we found no official BCLB document naming Betwinner as a licence holder. Until you see Betwinner on an official BCLB list, treat it as unlicensed in Kenya.
Nigeria
Since the Supreme Court’s November 2024 ruling, lotteries and gaming are regulated by the states, and the federal regulator’s role is limited to the Federal Capital Territory. Whether an operator is legal therefore depends on where you live. In April 2020 the Lagos State lotteries regulator publicly named Betwinner in a list of operators it described as unlicensed. Betwinner has claimed Nigerian permits, but we could not confirm a current state licence on an official register.
Somalia
There is no licensing system for gambling in Somalia, and gambling is prohibited. No foreign operator can be legally authorised to take bets from Somali residents.
South Africa
Under the National Gambling Act, 2004, online (interactive) casino games are not permitted. Sports betting is legal only with a licence from a provincial gambling board. We did not find Betwinner among licensed South African operators. The National Gambling Board has warned the public about illegal online sites and fake betting apps.
Zambia
Betting in Zambia requires a local licence. We found no evidence that Betwinner’s Curaçao company holds one.
What this means for players
- No local complaints body. If a withdrawal is refused or your account is closed, no Indian, Kenyan, Nigerian, South African or Zambian regulator can order the operator to pay.
- No local self-exclusion. National or provincial self-exclusion schemes do not cover offshore sites.
- Payment risk. Banks and mobile-money providers can block or reverse payments to unlicensed gambling sites. In India, processing payments for online money games is itself an offence.
- Blocking. Domains can be blocked at any time, which can leave you unable to reach your balance.
- Tax. Winnings may still be taxable in your country even if the site is unlicensed. Check with your tax authority.
How to check any gambling site yourself
- Scroll to the site footer and note the company name and licence number.
- Check the licence on the issuing regulator’s own website, for Curaçao the CGA licence register. Look at the status and expiry date, not just the name.
- Check your own country’s regulator: in Kenya the BCLB, in South Africa the National Gambling Board and your provincial board, in Nigeria your state gaming authority.
- If the brand is not on your local list, it is not licensed where you live, whatever its ads say.
Licensed alternatives
In India and Somalia there is no legal online betting option, so the safest choice is not to bet online. In South Africa, use only operators licensed by a provincial board (see the National Gambling Board for verified operators). In Kenya, use operators on the BCLB list. If you live in Ghana, read our Betwinner Ghana review, which covers the separately licensed Ghanaian site.
How we checked
This is desk research carried out in September 2026. We read the operator’s own licence statement, the Curaçao Gaming Authority online gaming register (updated 21 September 2026), the Gaming Commission of Ghana list, the text of India’s 2025 online gaming law as summarised by PRS Legislative Research, the Lagos State regulator’s published list and the National Gambling Board site. The Kenyan regulator’s site was unreachable. We did not open an account.
FAQ
Is Betwinner licensed?
The operator, Prevailer B.V., states that it holds Curaçao licence OGL/2024/341/0759. The Curaçao register lists that licence but shows an expiry date of 28 March 2026 with the status “Assessment in progress”, so we could not confirm it is fully active.
Is Betwinner legal in India?
No. Since the 2025 Online Gaming Act, offering, advertising and processing payments for online money games are offences in India.
Is Betwinner legal in Nigeria?
It is a grey area. Licensing is by state since November 2024, the Lagos regulator has listed Betwinner as unlicensed, and we could not confirm any current state licence.
Is Betwinner licensed in Kenya?
We could not confirm it. Check the BCLB’s official list before trusting any claim.
Is Betwinner the same as Betwinner Ghana?
No. Betwinner Ghana is run by Inter Omega Limited under a Gaming Commission of Ghana licence. That licence does not cover other countries.
18+ only. Gambling can cause serious harm. In South Africa, the responsible gambling helpline is 0800 006 008. Elsewhere, speak to a doctor or local health service if gambling is affecting your money, mood or relationships. More support: responsible gambling.
