This archive report was first published on 22 July 2019.
July 2019 has been a challenging month for Kenya's betting industry, which has weathered various storms over the years.
The government's crackdown on the industry began with demands for Sh26 billion in taxes owed by betting companies.
The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) suspended the licenses of 27 companies, restricting their advertising and payment systems.
The Central Bank of Kenya alerted banks to monitor the accounts of betting companies, while the Immigration Department announced the deportation of 17 betting firm directors.
The Interior Ministry, the parent ministry of the BCLB, targeted firms including SportPesa, Betin, Betway, and 1XBet, which featured heavily in the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
A report by Reelforge and TIFA Research found that betting companies were the top advertisers in Kenya in 2017 and 2018, spending over Sh20 billion annually.
The betting industry has produced few winners and many losers, with the government also crying foul about a hole in their pockets.
Companies like alcohol and tobacco producers pay over half their revenue to the government through taxes and licenses fees.
While betting companies are private firms, details about their revenue and sponsorships have largely remained secret.
Sportpesa had an advertisement showing their revenue for 2018 at Sh20 billion, out of which they paid taxes of Sh6.4 billion.
Several global betting companies are publicly listed and publish audited annual reports for investors and exchanges.
The industry's revenue and sponsorship deals are under scrutiny, with the government demanding taxes and the industry facing a potential ban.
