There could be major changes in Kenya with regard to gambling
Last year Kenya considered gambling legislation that would have changed the industry, but the bill was not passed into law. According to a Betway Nigeria Review, it was reported that the tax provisions that were included in the measure were instead placed in a separate finance bill. At the time, the government promised that a new gambling bill would be introduced that would tighten up the gambling industry.
In December, Jakoyo Midiwo, a member of Kenya's parliament, decided to introduce a new draft legislation called the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming (Amendment) Bill. This bill will include several changes that will fundamentally reshape the Kenyan gambling industry. One of these changes would require that all online gambling companies be fully owned by Kenyan citizens.
The bill also calls for strict restrictions on marketing and the re-introduction of a tax on gambling winnings. This would be an additional tax on top of the one that went into effect on January 1, 2017 for new taxes on operators. Kenyans will be prohibited from gambling at age 25 or older, there will be time limits, and there will be limits on the amount of money that can be spent. Even how much a player can win will be controlled.
Additional information in the document would prohibit Kenya's telecommunications companies from doing business with sports betting operators. Sports betting operators will have to set up their own telecom platforms.
Kenya's gambling industry is also making efforts to stop the problem of gambling, which the government says continues to grow. The Kenyan Surveillance Authority recently issued a notice to importers and customs agents that the government has imposed a ban on the importation of gaming equipment, machines and devices into the country. The statement said that "any further importation of such gaming devices must have special permission from the Ministry of Interior and National Government Coordination."
According to Interior Ministry officials, these efforts are just part of a larger plan to stop the importation of Chinese slot machines that can still be seen on the streets. A case in point is the Eastlands, where vending machines have been spotted outside stores in residential neighborhoods where even children are attracted to gambling.
A study by Consumer Insight found that 7 out of 100 children in elementary school gambled. Chinese citizens tend to own slot machines, rent them out, and then take the money they earn. The owner of the business where the machines are located gets a percentage of the profits.
In a December 2016 notice, Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery ordered county commissioners to remove slot machines from stores and villages. It was reported that these establishments were making a lot of money and not paying taxes.
