Kenya debates new anti-gaming measures

Kenyan authorities are still preparing a frame work to limit both land-based and online gaming operations.

Kenya.- A new measure to keep increasing gaming taxes was presented last week to the National Assembly of Kenya. Back in June, Uhuru Kenyatta, president of Kenya, signed a law that authorises the significant rise of gambling taxes from 5 to 35 percent. This year’s resolution comes after an attempt to increase the financial obligations to 39.5 percent.

According to members of Parliament, the new bill would help authorities reduce the amount of gaming offerings and illegal machines in the country. The previous bill has increased permit fees, fines and jail terms for gaming operators across the country.

The executive director of the CDA, Japheth Ogutu, said that the tax hike will hurt regular consumers that are subscribed to the products and services of the lottery, as Standard Media reported. Ogutu believes that the State should ask stakeholders before implementing the new law, as he feels that their input didn’t have any weight.

The industry executives from the Africa country said that 7 million out of the 45 million living in Kenya are registered on betting services. Last month, Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich said that the increase is meant to discourage problem gamblers. Back in March, after announcing the original plan, he said that the expansion of the industry has had negative social effects on society, especially on the youths and vulnerable members of the society.