Kenya’s betting operators have been warned that their licenses will be suspended on July 1 if the government determines that they haven’t been paying their taxes.

On Monday, Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i held a meeting with the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), after which he announced that all local betting operators will have their licenses revoked effective July 1 “unless the holders of those licenses provide proof of their tax remittance compliance.”

Matiang’i said official government figures showed betting operators generated revenue of Sh202b (US$2b) in 2018 but paid only Sh4b ($39.7m) in taxes. Matiang’i plans to introduce a tax compliance bill in parliament in short order and the BCLB has been ordered to draw up a list of noncompliant betting operators.

The Star quoted Ronald Karauri, CEO of Kenya’s leading sports betting operator SportPesa, saying he welcomed Matiang’i’s input and that “a well-regulated industry that adopts best practice is good for government, operators, citizens and all stakeholders.”