Monthly Archives: July 2020

Massachusetts casinos cleared to reopen this month

Massachusetts casinos have finally been cleared to reopen to the public, albeit under significant operating restrictions.

On Thursday, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) voted to lift the temporary suspension of gaming operations at the state’s casinos and racetracks that was imposed in mid-March due to COVID-19. Casinos can reopen as early as Monday, July 6, but must first submit plans indicating compliance with state-mandated health and safety precautions.

These include keeping a minimum six-foot separation between operating slots positions or installing plexiglass dividers no less than six feet tall between operating slots.

Blackjack tables will also have to feature plexiglass dividers between individual players — no more than three per table — and between players and dealers. For the time being, the MGC won’t permit poker, craps or roulette tables to operate. The restrictions are expected to effectively limit each casino’s individual capacity to around 25% of normal.

Kenya betting tax controversy costs legislator key committee post

Kenya’s sports betting tax controversy has cost a local legislator the leadership of a prominent government committee.

Earlier this week, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the legislature’s new Finance Bill 2020, which included a provision striking the controversial 20% excise tax on local sportsbook operators’ betting turnover. But just days later, Treasury Secretary Ukur Yatani publicly vowed to reintroduce the betting tax before the year was done.  

Yatani appeared to suggest that President Kenyatta was unaware that the betting tax had been eliminated from the Bill when he affixed his signature, claiming that “the removal of this tax happened during the Committee stage of the Bill.” On Friday, local media reported that National Assembly Finance Committee chair Joseph Limo (pictured) had lost his chairmanship as result of the controversy.

Interior Secretary Fred Matiang’i reiterated the government’s position Friday, saying the government was “not going back on the decisions we took on betting and gambling.” Matiang’i said President Kenyatta “is firm on this matter and we have his word to streamline this sector.”