Kenya Ready to Adopt Gaming Reforms

Kenya, the third largest gaming market in Africa, is poised to adopt two measures that would streamline the gaming industry. The National Lottery and the Gambling Control Bills would modernize the Betting Lotteries and Gaming Act of 1966.

Kenya Ready to Adopt Gaming Reforms

Kenya President William Ruto’s taskforce on the creation of a National Lottery has proposed two measures that would streamline the gaming industry in the African nation, according to CDC Gaming Reports.

Entitled the National Lottery and the Gambling Control Bills, they are included in the final report that the 25-member taskforce is prepared to release to the Cabinet, and from there to Parliament. It has been working on the report since February 16.

It seeks to replace the Betting Lotteries and Gaming Act of 1966. It would create a gambling regulatory authority to replace the Betting Control And Licensing Board (BCLB).

The report was prepared after consulting with stakeholders, experts and residents.

According to statistics from the BCLB there are currently 13 public lotteries, 56 public gaming companies and 105 bookmakers registered to operate in Kenya—which is considered the third largest gaming market in Africa, worth an estimated Sh200 billion ($1,455,604.08) in revenues.

Half of the money from the proposed National Lottery would go towards payouts and 38 percent toward sports, recreation, arts, culture and national heritage. A gambling tax of 15 percent would be retained for gambling operators.