Betting companies in Trouble as licences face cancellation in 30th June

Most Kenyan youths blacklisted by CRB borrowed money for betting - CS Fred Matiang’i

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Dr. Fred Matiang’I has on Monday warned that come June 30th gambling licenses will no longer be renewed automatically.

The Interior CS was speaking during a meeting with Stakeholders in Nairobi when he noted that many Kenyans have been blacklisted with CRB due to gambling.

Matiang’i said he would push for tough legislation aimed at not only regulating betting among the youth but also drive rogue betting firms out of business. The numbers which are said to be over 500,000 is made up of many youths who are jobless but gamble.

In addition to that, Dr. Fred Matiang’I noted that the average income of most gamblers ranges between Ksh 5,000 – Ksh 10,000 per month.

During the meeting, it also emerged majority of the youth had run themselves into bad credit with many being listed in the Credit Reference Bureau Kenya (CRB) simply because the loans they took all ended in the hands of betting firms.

The CS threatened directors of the betting company who have not complied by getting genuine working permits that they will be deported. He further instructed the IG and Directorate of Criminal Investigation to review the list of directors by the close of business on Monday.

Feeling disappointed, CS Matiang’I said that it the directors of these companies that carry away the huge portion of the money collected to their countries with Kenyan having nothing to show for.

The CS’s sentiments come at a time when Kenyan leading betting firm SportPesa is in a row with KRA over the filling of taxes.

 

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