Kenya has directed that 17 foreign directors of betting companies operating in the country be deported.
The interior ministry gave the order yesterday just about a week after it ordered telecoms firm Safaricom to stop processing payments for sports betting firms.
Online sports betting has grown fast in recent times in Kenya with the young population having a voracious appetite for it. Betting companies have also grown with huge revenues. The Kenyan government estimated their combined revenue at 200 billion shillings ($2 billion) last year, up from 2 billion shillings five years earlier.
The social impact of betting has raised concerns as the government introduced new gambling regulations, including banning advertising outdoors and on social media.
The interior ministry also disclosed over a week ago that regulator Betting Control and Licensing Board will not renew licenses of 19 firms while it reviewed their operations and shareholding structures.
Wangui Muchiri, the head of communications at the interior ministry said, “The cabinet secretary (minister) signed 17 deportation orders for directors of betting companies.”
As part of means to curb betting in Kenya, the government had ordered telecom companies to stop processing payments for betting companies citing nonrenewal of betting licenses as a reason.
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