Betting firm Betin Kenya has secured a temporary reprieve, following the High Court’s suspension of the decision to withdraw the firm’s licence.
High Court judge Weldon Korir, suspended the decision by the Betting and Licensing Board on the 1st of July 2019, to deny Gamcode Limited (which is trading as Betin Kenya), access to renew its licence.
In an industry where more than 200 billion Kenyan Shillings is generated from annual sales, Betin Kenya is easily the second largest betting firm in Kenya after SportPesa.
Judge Weldon Korir stated that, “A conservatory order be and is hereby issued staying or suspending the effect of the betting board’s decision of rejecting the applicant’s application for the renewal of its 2019/2020 bookmaker’s licence, until July 16,”.
This comes after the Betting and Licensing Board announced that it did not renew operating permits for 19 undisclosed gambling firms.
Gamcode first tried to have its license renewed last year, but was only given an extension valid until the 30th of June 2019.
The Betting and Licensing Board informed Betin Kenya in March 2019, that it must await vetting before a verdict is issued.
The betting firm was later informed that its licence application had been rejected, a decision which led to the court action.
While other betting platforms offer only online or SMS-based betting, Betin Kenya has been setting up betting shops.
The Betting and Licensing Board which considers the financial status, educational qualifications or experience of directors, ability to carry on gambling as well as the reputation, character, and reliability of applicants, is yet to respond to the case.
