Eyebrows raised over new betting licence

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He acknowledged that betting control and licensing are devolved functions, but added that the matter was still with the Transition Authority to ensure seamless shift.

A gaming industry lobby is concerned that the Nairobi City County is demanding licence renewal fees from its members despite having paid it to the government.

The Association of Gaming Operators – Kenya said its members should not pay twice since they renewed their permits with the Betting Control and Licensing Board.

“Licence renewal begins in February and by now all members have renewed. We shall have to find a way of getting out of this should any of our members be victimised,” said boss David Moshi.
He was reacting to the county government notice calling for gaming businesses to renew their licences before August 30.

DEVOLVED FUNCTIONS

He acknowledged that betting control and licensing are devolved functions, but added that the matter was still with the Transition Authority to ensure seamless shift.

We were unable to get a comment from City Hall’s chief licensing officer Peter Kinyanjui as he was said to be out of office.

The county is targeting pool betting, casinos, public lotteries and price competitions.

Others on the county radar are pool tables, bookmakers and totalisator (betting on horse races) as it seeks to tap into the popular industry in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi, Malindi and Lamu.

City Hall had proposed to levy a 12.5 per cent tax on lottery winnings, which was abandoned after it become apparent that gaming investors would be subjected to double taxation from both the county and national government.