Kenya: Court quashes Nairobi betting tax, limit on gambling to 5-star hotels

Kenya: Court quashes Nairobi betting tax, limit on gambling to 5-star hotels

Article brief provided by Business Daily Africa
  • Sam Kiplagat, Business Daily Africa
February 2, 2023 9:04 PM
  • Sam Kiplagat, Business Daily Africa

The High Court has quashed laws that restricted gambling in the city to five-star hotels with casinos and the 7.5 percent excise duty imposed on cash set aside by punters in their wallets for gaming.

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Justice Anthony Mrima said the two laws were not subjected to public participation in breach of the Constitution— which demands community input before major decisions are taken.

The Nairobi City County Betting, Lotteries and Gaming (Amendment) Act, 2021 confined gambling to five-star hotels and limited their operations to between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

In the second case, the judge handed gamblers a reprieve after quashing the 7.5 percent excise duty imposed on the money they have set aside in their wallets for gaming.