Kenya’s Interior Minister, Dr Fred Matiang has declared war on betting companies due to its adverse affects on the youth and high spending by patrons. He further retorted saying that the government will be turning the betting industry inside out. He has therefore called for changes in the Betting and Licensing regulations.
The minister ordered the Betting Control and Licensing Board to oversee that betting firms are in compliance with the taxes to avoid obstruction.
Kenya recorded the highest number of youth betting with at least 76 percent of them involved in betting following a recent survey carried out among youth between the ages of 17-35 in Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.
The survey further shows that Kenyans spend the highest amount of money in gambling and the highest frequency compared to other African countries. Whilst other countries bet mostly once a month, a majority of Kenyans bet once a week spending about $50 per month mostly on football bets. Youth elsewhere spend less than $50 a month.
