Sportpesa is back! Betting firms receive permits

After an uncertain month of operations, several betting companies have finally received their permits for the 2022/2023 trading period, among them giant sports investors such as SportPesa.

The move which comes few weeks before the Kenya Premier League new football season kicks off on September 10 is a sigh of relief for various clubs and sports entities that have struggled to get partners to fund their teams. The permits for all betting firms are renewed annually and lapse every June 30th.

Betting companies are some of the largest investors in sports. SportPesa which has been operating using a court order since resuming business in November 2020 will now operate under Betting Control and Licensing number 0000448.

Other firms that have so far received their licenses include Betika, Odibets, Sportybet, Shabiki and Betsafe among others. Last month, some of these companies had to temporarily shut down their paybills as they sought clearance from BCLB as well as other state agencies; as part of the pre-licensing conditions.

Some of the conditions included a clearance from the Kenya Revenue Authority, Financial Reporting Centre and a Ksh250,000 bank guarantee among others.

“Our paybill numbers are currently unavailable affecting deposits and withdrawals and we are working with the relevant government agencies to have them restored so that you continue to enjoy the best gaming experience,” Betsafe told its customers on July 7, a week after the deadline of re-licensing had passed.

Betting firms are required to renew their licenses annually, a move that has always been mired in long standing push and pull over the conditions for licensing.

As the betting firms which are large investors in sports sought licenses, some football clubs were adversely affected when sponsorships were prematurely ended.

AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia who were sponsored by Betsafe at the start of the 2021/2022 KPL season had to look for new sponsors mid-season. The two popular clubs are now sponsored by Betika and BetArique respectively.