The leading sports betting operator of Kenya, SportPesa has to reapply for the gaming license to resume its operations in the country.
The acting director of Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), Peter Mbugi said SportPesa has to issue a new gaming license as its sports betting operations were suspended in July.
Mbugi also said that BCLB would examine the license application of the firm and make the decision that they have done for others. The CEO of SportPesa, Ronald Karauri has not yet replied to the statement of Mbugi.
BCLB suspended 27 sports betting operators due to accusations of unpaid taxes. SportPesa was one of them. According to the government, the 20% tax on the winnings of the punter includes the stakes that should be returned to the punter. Therefore, it makes tax on the turnover of the betting. On the other hand, operators applied the tax only to the actual winnings.
It was announced by SportPesa that the digital relaunch was imminent after approving the terms of KRA (Kenya Revenue Authority). But, sports bettors need to wait longer till the leader of the market is back in business.
Firms with suspended licenses had their digital payment channels that were also suspended by the government. But, some legislatures support them. In August, it was announced that the betting in Kenya had been reappointed after agreeing to implement a 20% tax according to the government.
Throughout the buzz, the government targeted the betting sector and claimed that it was protecting the youth of Kenya from the betting operators. Some betting operators were allowed to continue, but some were shuttered.
Odibets is one of the favored operators of betting. The media of Kenya has been flooded with advertisements to promote Odibets in the town. In some of the marketing pitches, it stated that punters that are in-play or in live betting could easily win money than by pre-match betting.
Also read more on “President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya has called for a Total Ban on Gambling“.
