This archive report was first published on 2 July 2019.
On July 2, 2019, Kenya's government cracked down on the betting industry, locking out 19 firms that had not passed security vetting. The move was part of a broader effort to control gambling and ensure that betting firms operate within the law.
Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i had vowed the previous week that some betting firms would lose their operation licenses. He emphasized the need to discourage gambling, stating, 'There is no nation on earth that has ever developed simply because its people concentrated in gambling. This one must be discouraged at all cost so that we can set a good foundation for our future.'
The Betting Control and Licensing Board also deferred the renewal of licenses for 13 casinos, six lotteries, and eight betting firms, without explaining why. The government has raised taxes on betting and restricted the availability of betting places to regulate the industry.
A multi-agency team will review the licenses of betting firms on a quarterly basis to determine their levels of compliance. Firms that had not paid their taxes by July 2 risked having their licenses canceled.
