Author: Daniel
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), in its fight against revenue leakages, proceeds to integrate into its platform 87 betting firms that had been previously put on hold. According to KRA, the integration will enable quick computation and remittance of betting firms’ taxes after midnight daily and by 7 am the following day, respectively. “KRA has commenced the integration of the final 87 betting firms into the system. This is expected to significantly enhance revenue collection from the sector,” The KRA stated in its update. The tax man stated that 36 betting companies had been previously integrated, contributing to the significant…
The amended tax income bill enacted by the Ghanaian Parliament on March 31, 2023, is distressing the lottery and sports betting sector. Recently, the call for the Ghana government to review the newly passed income tax law that concerns lottery and sporting betting companies has increased. This call is in response to the reinstated 10% tax on lottery wins removed in 2017 and the introduction of a 20% tax on the earnings of lottery and sports betting companies. Mr. Justice Ayeh Donkor, the convener of the coalition of small business owners (CBSO), admonished the government of Ghana to introduce tax…
Three lobby groups have taken the government of Kenya to court, stating that the 5am to 10pm watershed period has been compromised with increased betting, lottery, and gaming advertisements. The three groups, Stand Against Gambling Addiction, the African Center for Corrective & Preventive Action(ACCPA), and the Center for Accountability Reform and Democracy, claim that there has been a significant increase in the promotion and advertisement of gambling by various media stations including radio and television during their daily broadcasts. “There has been a mushrooming of betting, lottery and gaming companies and operators who utilize modern telecommunication platforms. The proliferation has…
South Africa’s National Lotteries Commission is set to fight corruption and compensate communities wrongly affected by it under the tenure of the new commissioner Jodi Scholtz. The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) board has approved using a reparatory process to correct the wrongs created by corrupt practices within the organization. The steps to be carried out include rendering apologies to ex-staff punished or laid off from their jobs for blowing the whistle on corruption. In an interview, Jodi Scholtz, the new NLC Commissioner, said, “We’re doing it because the NLC has wronged communities, and we need to say sorry. It needs…
The 8th Annual Sports Betting East Africa+ Summit (SBEA+) will be held in Kampala, Uganda, on July 13 and 14, 2023. East Africa is becoming, at a fast pace, a perfect destination for establishing igaming services. Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda are the five regions in East Africa. Operators with well-outlined goals and strategies can penetrate the market in each region, but not without some challenges. And this is where the yearly SBEA+ summit comes in. SBEA+ has been a helpful summit where advancements made and difficulties overcome in the last 7 years are reviewed.…
The previously proposed betting taxes in Kenya have been shelved following resistance to any further levies for the gaming business during this year’s finance bill review. In the 2021 Finance Bill, the government of Kenya imposed an excise duty of 20 percent of the amount staked or wagered on betting products. However, this bill has been reviewed. The finance and national planning committees of the National Assembly received public opinions, with over ten submissions opposing changing the definition of wins. The inclusion of wagered sums in withholding tax computations was met with solid criticism. Along with the Association of Gaming…
betPawa, a gaming brand in Ghana, has partnered with the Baks Calmare Enclave Foundation to address the country’s gambling addiction problem. They plan to achieve this through counseling and rehabilitation services. Baks Foundation is Ghana’s most effective mental health support organization. The center was founded in 2019 but did not receive its full functioning license until 2022. Their services majorly involve offering to counsel young adults with problem gambling that results from social and psychological factors. betPawa’s aim of promoting responsible gambling without neglecting those with gambling problems is remarkable. Last year, In preparation for the opening responsible gaming call…
Uganda’s newly imposed gaming regulation law has possibly made PulseBet shut down its operations there. PulseBet, a division of SportTech Entertainment division, launched in the Ugandan market in 2022 to offer the nation’s most outstanding sports betting service. Although they succeeded for a while, the betting site will cease operations. In a press release, the management of SportTech Entertainment Uganda said, “Take notice that SportTech Entertainment Uganda Limited trading as PulseBet has notified the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board of the closure of business operations in Uganda. The said operator will cease to conduct betting business in Uganda by…
Pragmatic Play strengthens its foothold in Africa through a multi-deal with PrideBet, solidifying its position as a top igaming content provider. PrideBet, a Ghanaian sports and casino gaming company, is currently the source of Pragmatic Play slot content, including the well-liked Big Bass series. The recent releases by Pragmatic Play, The Knight King, Sugar Rush, and Gates of Olympus are among the content PrideBet offers. As part of the multi-product agreement, PrideBet users will have access to the exclusive Pragmatic Play Virtual Sports services24/7. Pragmatic Play’s virtual sports portfolio is powered by a well-designed engine that can deliver an enjoyable…
The current laws guiding gambling in Kenya do not restrict any age group from gambling. However, the task force team has proposed controlling the legal gambling age. Plans exist to exclude children from gambling by raising the minimum bets and age. Gideon Thuranira, deputy chairman of the National Lottery, stated, “At the moment, you can bet even with Sh1, 2 or 5. We are trying to raise that to Sh20 because that stops children from participating in gambling.” The Kenyan government looks forward to creating a conducive gambling environment for its citizens. Therefore they set up a public participation tour…