Betway among 10 betting firms cleared by Kenyan tax authorities
SportPesa and Betin still facing payment blocking as tax dispute rumbles on
Betway was named as one of ten bookmakers firms cleared this week to resume operating in Kenya after settling their tax disputes with the Kenyan Revenue Authority (KRA).
Licence renewals for 27 firms betting were denied by the board earlier this month, following a Kenyan government investigation which claimed betting firms were avoiding full payment of Kenyan gambling taxes.
The Kenyan government subsequently ordered the country’s telcos to start blocking payments to the named operators.
However, KRA officials have now cleared Betway, Palms Bet, Bet Boss, OdiBets, Lucky 2u, Eazi Bet, Kick off, Eastleighbet, Mozzartbet and Ken Bookmakers.
The operators are fully compliant with Kenya tax law and in line to have their licences renewed by the Kenyan Betting and Gaming Board.
Both SportPesa and Betin, who are currently challenging the Kenyan government’s tax claims in the courts, have not been cleared by the KRA. Last week, SportPesa was forced to deny widespread claims that it was closing its Kenyan operations following the denial of its licence renewal.
SportPesa took to Facebook to reassure players that it would continue operations in Kenya
Elsewhere, Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa has called on the Kenyan government to soften its stance towards betting operators.
In comments reported by the Kenyan Star newspaper, Mwendwa said the Kenyan leagues would be the biggest losers if firms such as SportPesa and Betin leave the Kenyan market.
Mwendwa singled out the contributions of SportPesa, which has contributed over KSH600m (£4.5m) to the Kenyan football league and Betin, who recently contributed KSH20m (£155,000) in sponsorship monies to the Kenyan national team during its recent African Cup of Nations campaign.
“We are on the verge of losing approximately KSH600m as football will be affected in the fight. If SportPesa exits, we will be left without a title sponsor for the league and Shield Cup,” Mwendwa said.
In addition to Kenya’s football leagues, Mwendwa also highlighted the contribution of betting firms to the newly established Kenyan Sports Fund, which provides financial support to many of Kenya’s national sports teams.
Betting firms currently contribute 34% of the funding within the Sports Fund and Mwendwa believes the operation of national teams will become more difficult in the future with diminished funding.
“We have in the past requested money for international assignments from the fund and we hope the government will have in mind the development of the sport when doing their regulations,” Mwendwa added.