SportPesa may restart operations in Kenya, following a court ruling overturning a new 20% excise tax on all betting stakes.

The operator’s CEO, Ronald Karauri, has reportedly said that the company might be willing to recommence its operations in the country, which were dramatically shut down in protest at the government’s new tax (read more).

Kenyan operators had tried, to no avail, to explain to the government that adding a 20% tax on stakes, when taken with the existing tax on winnings, had made sports betting completely unviable as a business.

It seems the Kenyan Tax Appeals Tribunal agreed with the operators like SportPesa, ruling that “total winnings” as stated in the tax, should not include the amount staked by the bettor.

AYO.NEWS says:

The fact that so much disruption and damage has already been caused, especially to those sports clubs that lost critical sponsorships, not to mention employees who have been put out of work, over an issue that was so obviously ridiculous, is a damning illustration of total incompetency on the part of the Kenyan government.

Let’s hope this is all cleared up quickly that operators like SportPesa can renew their licenses quickly, and that whoever was behind this absurdity at the Kenyan tax authority is held accountable for their actions.

AYO.NEWS says features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited.