Kenya’s gambling industry is about to hit the jackpot-or go bust-depending on how you look at it. If President William Ruto signs off on the new Gambling Control Bill, 2023, online gambling firms and the national lottery will need to cough up a staggering Sh200 million as security to secure a license. Talk about raising the stakes!
The National Assembly just gave the bill the thumbs up, steamrolling past Senate amendments aimed at making the industry more accessible- and, according to lawmakers, more vulnerable to abuse. Now, all that’s left is Ruto’s signature to turn this bill from a debate into a reality.
MPs Call the Shots: Senate’s Hand Gets Folded
The Senate tried to sneak in a proposal to lower the minimum betting stake from Sh20 to a single shilling, claiming it would shield schoolkids from the gambling bug. But MPs weren’t buying it. Their reasoning? Even pocket change can be a dangerous gateway, and they weren’t about to roll the dice on underage betting.
Another Senate bid that got shot down was the attempt to slash the required security deposit for online gambling and the national lottery from Sh200 million to Sh20 million. The committee overseeing the bill doubled down, insisting that online gambling and national lotteries have a far greater reach than old-school, in-person casinos- meaning they need much stricter financial safeguards.
“Having considered the Senate amendments to the Gambling Control Bill, 2023, the committee recommends that the House reject the Senate amendments,” the committee stated in its report. And reject they did, ensuring the bill stayed largely untouched as it marched toward the finish line.
Show Me the Money: The House Keeps Its Tax Hand Strong
It’s not just the sky-high security deposit that’s causing a stir—the bill also maintains Kenya’s tough stance on gambling taxes. The Senate wanted a 15% gaming tax on revenue, payable to the Kenya Revenue Authority on the 20th of each month. But MPs weren’t having it, arguing that these rules were already ironed out in the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah was quick to slam the Senate’s attempt at a tax rerun, calling it redundant. “The amendments seek to legislate on matters already addressed by the Tax (Laws) Amendment Act, 2024,” he said during a heated parliamentary session.
Counties Left Out: No Local Licensing Free-for-All
Another Senate push that got tossed out was the idea of letting county governments take charge of licensing betting sites in Kenya, amusement machines, and prize competitions. MPs shut this down, arguing that such decentralization would create a regulatory mess and likely contradict existing laws.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi wasn’t shy about pointing out the Senate’s legal slip-ups, calling their proposals inconsistent. Meanwhile, Dan Wanyama’s committee dug in, citing Article 109 of the Constitution, which makes it clear: money bills must originate in the National Assembly—not the Senate.
With all 20 Senate amendments trashed, the bill is now staring down its final hurdle—President Ruto’s desk. If he signs, gambling operators will need deeper pockets to stay in the game, tax rules will remain rock-solid, and regulatory control will stay in national hands.
