A New Model for Gambling with a Social Mission
The charitable platform, spearheaded by Gloria Herndon, Chair of the Top Deck Entertainment Board, is being positioned as a reinvestment tool for Kenyan communities. Developed in partnership with Humanitarian Gaming International (HGI) and Electronic Gaming Solutions (EGS), the casino will allocate a portion of its profits toward local causes, including healthcare, youth development, and education.
“This isn’t just a business venture—it’s a reinvestment mechanism,” said Herndon. “We’re building something that generates revenue and returns it to the communities that need it most.”
The platform has already received its license to operate in Kenya and is expected to offer a range of online casino games supported by integrated responsible gambling features. Operational oversight and content will be provided by HGI and EGS, who are also contributing to the platform’s governance structure.
Launch Comes During Regulatory Clampdown
The timing of the launch is notable. Kenya’s Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has recently introduced a series of restrictive measures targeting gambling promotion. In April, the regulator imposed a 30-day moratorium on all gambling-related advertising. This was followed in May by penalties against nine TV stations for broadcasting unlicensed gaming content.
Most recently, the BCLB moved to ban endorsements by celebrities, influencers, and content creators in all gambling advertisements—a move intended to curb the visibility of betting among younger audiences.
Against this backdrop, Top Deck’s community-driven approach may offer a more palatable alternative to conventional gambling models, especially as African markets begin to experiment with frameworks that emphasise player protection and social impact.