Gambling has become a chronic disease in Kenya, worse than even cancer. The government, in a bid to reduce appetite of gamblers ,increased taxes on betting companies like Sportpesa, Betin,Betway and Mcheza.The revised tax will now be 50 % of the total revenue, which is up by more than 20 %.
Sources from the betting companies intimate to us that the tax will be passed over to gamblers. The first thing these companies will do is to review the odds downwards. If for instance a team had an odd of 3.4,it means the odd will reduce significantly, say to a maximum of 3.
The second thing the companies will do is to increase the withdrawal amount. Each withdrawal will attract Ksh 5-Ksh10 more than the current charges.
What does this mean; that the common citizens were the main loser in this new tax regulations.