The African governments are beginning to think smart as they recognize the potential of online gambling as a source of taxation revenue.
This is very beneficial since African places don’t have the best reputation for having productive legislative systems and laws. However, there are always exceptions, and Kenya is one of them. The Kenyan laws pertaining to online gambling are some of the most clear cut African laws at the moment. One thing is certain, something great is bound to come out of all of this if other countries follow the example.
The Kenyan government has made the right move, by stepping forward to embrace online gambling as one of the biggest hobbies around the world. The entire country will benefit from the revenues coming from the taxes and all illegal operations will cease to exist, although not only that Kenyan gamblers will have where to play legally. Just in 2012 the Kenyan government has collected over $3 million from tax revenues.
The government body that regulates online gambling in Kenya is called the Betting Control and Licensing Board. The Board was established in 1966 and has had a great role in making the country perceive gambling as something that can be used to help the economy. Any online gambling site that wants its operations to be licensed in Kenya has to apply for a permit at the Betting Control and Licensing Board.
Prior to the regulation of online gambling, Kenyan players were able to play two state-run online lotteries available via mobiles and PC, and go to land-based casinos. In 2011 with the help of the Canadian casino software provider Amaya the Board opened Betkenya, which is a state-run online casino and sportsbook and one of the first steps towards the liberalization of online gambling.
But, one of the first privately owned online casinos that was licensed by the Board is Royal Kenya casino. It is a casino where people can play games from the Microgaming, the esteemed and leading casino software company in the industry. There players can wager using Kenyan currency and use Kenyan payment methods.
This just shows how the Kenyan people can benefit from the regulation of online gambling. Instead of having to play at suspicious online casinos, now they can enjoy regulated, licensed and monitored online casinos.
