The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has authorized Kenyan sports betting platform; Sportpesa to resume its operations in Kenya.
The leading betting firm confirmed the news via a statement which it shared on its Twitter account.
Users of the platform expressed their happiness as a result of news, via their comments on Sportpesa’s statement post on Twitter, and are waiting eagerly for its license to be renewed.
Throughout the entirety of its ban betting firm; Sportpesa, continue to maintain that it had complied with tax regulations.
The company made it known that in 2018 alone, it had paid more than 6 billion Kenyan Shillings in taxes after making 20 billion Kenyan Shillings in revenues and 9 billion Kenyan Shillings in profits.
While the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has cleared given the go ahead for Sportpesa to have its license renewed, the the final verdict however, now lies with the Betting Control and Licences Board (BCLB).
Just last week, the betting company suffered a huge setback after the Kenyan high court declined to compel the Betting Control and Licences Board (BCLB), to renew Sportpesa’s license.
Justice John Mativo, who presided over the case, stated that Sportpesa failed to demonstrate that the decision being called into question, was an abuse of power, and was arrived at on the basis of random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
Sportpesa in addition, wanted the court to compel the government to lift the suspension of its Safaricom paybill numbers, stating that the suspension of their paybill numbers and shortcodes crippled their business.
The betting firm claimed that it had met all requirements and had also been in pursuit of a refund as a result of damages.
During the time when Sportpesa was absent due to its license issues, other firms were operational.
Betika was the first to get back into the betting scene due to the fact that its license was issued almost immediately. It was joined by other firms including Betway, Mozzartbet and Odibets, who also followed suit.
The above sites however (spearheaded by Betika), have been strong arming 20% of the winnings of their users in order to keep up with tax payments.
Their actions birthed negative comments from various who expressed their frustrations on social media, complaining that putting high stakes on little odds would not bring any profit, as a sizable part of the money from the winnings, goes towards paying off the withholding tax.
Betway, in response, returned to the scene with an ad campaign geared towards discouraging Kenyans from engaging in the gambling vice.
The campaign which has been running on their social media pages is tagged; ‘Bet the Responsible Way’.
Users of Sportpesa are hoping that the betting company, will not tax any of their potential winnings when its license is renewed.
Do you bet? If yes, how were you affected by Sportpesa’s absence? Do you have any suggestions on what the company could do to even the odds (no pun intended) and get ahead of the other betting firms? Tell us.
