The new steep tax hike is partly aimed at raising around Sh50.4 billion in taxes to help fund a massive Sh3.32 trillion national budget. The government, however, also hopes it will help curb what it feels is too quickly becoming a national pastime in Kenya.

Government Maintains its Stance

Vocal critics of Kenya’s growing betting industry such as Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani, who proposed the new tax in 2019, have many concerns about the growing trend in betting in Kenya. Like many, Yatani is particularly concerned about the youth and the repercussions of irresponsible gambling. 

In recent years, taxes on the betting industry in Kenya have steadily increased as government regulation has struggled to keep up with its rapid growth. The hike will come at a time when taxes on commercial online gambling are already high, as these activities are easy targets for so-called “sin taxes”.

Though the impending tax law was first instated in 2019, betting operators in Kenya were successfully able to lobby for its removal a year later. Since then, the tax has been at a far lower 7.5 percent of every Sh1,000 wagered. Now, the Kenyan Treasury is seeking to reinstate the tax law. If successful, they aim to have the 20 percent tax reinstated well ahead of the coming elections in August 2022.

Their concerns over the youth are not unfounded. The rapidly increasing popularity of betting in Kenya has caused a corresponding rise in irresponsible gambling. The resulting loss and moneylending have led to a higher rate of debt, and also suicide, over time. 

M-Pesa, the largest operator in Kenya, reportedly made around Sh83.2 billion in the six months leading up to September 2021. This represented a 69 percent increase from the prior year. Other betting firms have also shown a swift and steady growth at around 35 percent, despite the efforts of the government.

Reliance on Sin Taxes

“Sin taxes” have steadily become a favorite generator of revenue for the Kenyan government. Their target is not only betting, but also alcohol, cigarettes, and food and drinks that contain sugar. In the new amendments to the Finance Bill of 2022, Yatani aims to raise all sin taxes to create greater revenue for the government. 

High taxes on betting have thus far had some small level of success with the growing issues surrounding betting in Kenya. Otherwise, the government has banned betting companies from advertising on television or radio. Many support centers and helplines are being established by both government and betting firms. There are also various initiatives being started to educate and warn the public and youth about the pitfalls of irresponsible betting.

The post New Laws Set to Raise Kenya’s Betting Taxes appeared first on gamblers.africa.

Hollywoodbets has been present in the South African betting market for years now. In that time the company has managed to secure a firm foothold. The site is renowned locally for providing a varied array of gambling services, with slots and live dealer games being the most popular. The deal with Pragmatic Play will allow the site to provide even more variety.

Achieving Growth Ambitions

Yossi Barzely is Chief Business Development Officer at Pragmatic Play. He explained that South Africa is already well established, but that room to expand still exists. He went on to say that he has been looking for a local partnership to help with regional growth ambitions. Hollywoodbets is exactly the right partner, he declared, adding that he is delighted with the partnership.

Betting Operations Manager at Hollywoodbets Dermot O’Connell shared similar thoughts. He declared that his site aims to always provide premium entertainment for customers. He pointed out that Pragmatic Play is the perfect partner in that regard. Pragmatic Play is known for its excellent quality, he explained, meaning that local players have more options than ever. 

A World Class Studio

Pragmatic Play is renowned for providing superior iGaming content. The company proudly delivers 6 new slots on a monthly basis. Live dealer and Bingo games are also produced with equal levels of regularity. This in itself is impressive, but more so that all software is delivered through a single API. This means that the studio is not only reliable but also convenient.

No doubt, South African players will be keen on trying out the new iGaming options. 

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The iGaming giant recently strengthened this focus when it expanded its existing partnership with the online gaming tech giant, Gaming Innovation Group (GiG). 

The partnership has its focus on the African continent and will authorize Betway to make use of GiG’s “Comply” compliance toolset in Africa. 

About GiG Comply

GiG Comply is an enormously valuable tool for the safety-first online betting operator. 

Its efficiency comes from the fact that it is customizable for matching the local legislation of a particular region. From an operator’s point of view, this means 100% compliance no matter where in the regulated world they do business. 

This tool is so versatile that it can be tweaked to check compliance with local advertising and marketing standards and regulations. 

This means that Betway, with the help of GiG, will now be able to put together their own criteria for wherever they are in Africa. These criteria are set as specific parameters for scanning online content. This means “code red” iGaming words will immediately be flagged. As will African affiliates who are stepping out of line in terms of local legal compliance. 

Safety the Key Priority 

As mentioned before, the bulk of the focus of the expanded partnership will be on bettor safety and responsible gambling. 

According to Chad Bates, Betway’s Head of Marketing in Africa, the partnership with GiG has created a significant opportunity for the company to become even more notable as a leader in the industry – and in terms of safety and fair play. 

Betway first started using GiG’s Comply product in September last year. The deal already back then spanned several world markets. 

Betway has furthermore been doing its bit for safety and compliance with its recent link-up with the Sports Writers Association of Ghana. Betway will in the future be working with the association via a series of educational programs focused on safe gambling. 

To this end, Betway expects to deliver a much-needed service to local communities in Ghana. The company has expressed excitement at the many possibilities that this brings.

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 This year, they’re celebrating four years of success in Nigeria’s booming market with their 4^th anniversary. 

According to BetKing’s mission statement, everybody is a king and deserves to be treated like one. And from this point of view, they’ve managed to build an incredible brand. 

During a recent interview, BetKing Nigeria Managing Director Gossy Ukanwoke elaborated on several key questions regarding the brand. He also shone the spotlight on the group’s commitment to the quality and safety of the betting experience offered to customers. 

Focused on Africa

BetKing currently operates in four countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Ghana. 

BetKing has its full focus on the African continent, explained Ukanwoke, which defines the operator and sets it apart from many others.  

The betting provider first began operating in Nigeria in 2018 and has since grown into becoming one of the biggest role-players in the digital entertainment sector. According to Ukanwoke, this has led to the company being recognized as one of the best-known brands across the Nigerian betting landscape. 

The Challenges Faced

But the company hasn’t been without its challenges in establishing itself as a household brand in Nigeria. 

Even so, Ukanwoke said in meeting these challenges, the key focus for the operator has been not only on digital entertainment. It’s also changing the way that sports betting in Africa is typically viewed. 

Ukanwoke explained that it has been crucial to improve the market in which the company is operating locally. Within this localized improvement, the BetKing Nigeria MD described the main challenge as emerging successful and unique in a market already populated by so many other providers. 

Ukanwoke said that the brand has taken up this challenge full force by remaining true to what the BetKing brand stands for. He described this as being the empowerment of the individual bettor while staying focused on meeting the bettor’s needs. 

Investing has Been Worth it

Nigeria is an important market for the brand. According to the BetKing Nigeria MD is made even more so by the size of the betting market compared to many other countries in the African continent. 

An important strategy here has been the inking vital partnerships with others operating in this lucrative market, he explained. This ties in perfectly once again in keeping with what the brand hopes to represent, which is making use of the right sort of technology, innovation, and partnerships to reach the best possible outcome. 

Since Nigeria is such a huge and promising market from a sports betting and digital growth point of view, Ukanwoke said the decision to remain active in the country has played a pivotal role in helping BetKing to grow and expand its business also into other African countries. 

The State of the Network

IT provision and reliable connectivity have played a deciding role for BetKing in Nigeria. 

With more people now having access to the internet and mobile connectivity than ever before, more people now have access to online entertainment than in years gone by. 

According to Ukanwoke, this has meant the difference between running a mediocre operation vs. a successful one.

Giving as Important as Getting

Ukanwoke also commented on the operator’s popular AFKON campaign. In this campaign, BetKing Nigeria gave away cars for free to several lucky customers.

People love to win, he explained. Initiatives like AFKON play an important role in the growth and expansion of the brand’s footprint. 

BetKing Nigeria’s newest campaign is called “4 Years on the Throne”. This campaign rewards customers for supporting BetKing, said the MD. Giving back to the community has been a vital part of all of that, he explained. Therefore much of the operator’s focus has been on job creation. 

To date, BetKing Nigeria has created more than 50,000 new jobs in the country.  

Another big campaign has been BetKing’s KidsPort project. This is a football program presented to after-schoolers. The program deserves honourable mention because provides opportunities to kids from orphanages and poorer communities for developing their football talent. 

BetKing Nigeria will continue to grow for as long as it is able to make a difference. 

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10bet has recently sealed partnership deals with several local partners – including a number of sponsorship deals with local football teams. It has thereby managed to cement its commitment to Africa as a continent and the development of football as a sport. 

10bet is now live in four African markets; the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Zambia, and Tanzania. 

This means that bettors in these countries now have access to more sports betting action and excitement than ever before. They can now place bets at one of the most advanced sportsbooks in the world, and on a variety of platforms, including USSD, SMS, and directly from their mobile phones. 

When Football is a Passion

10bet is an operator that has become well known for being interested in raising the standards of football in Africa. 

The operator recently inked six new sponsorships with Africa-based football teams. They include Talanta FC (Kenya), Aduana Stars (Ghana), Red Arrows (Zambia), Enyimba (Nigeria), Daring Club Motema Pembe (DRC), and Dodoma Jiji FC (Tanzania). 

According to a spokesperson, these sponsorships are the result of a realization that bettors enjoy the on-the-field experience every bit as much as they enjoy betting on their favourite teams and players. 

Not only will the sponsorships mean a huge financial boost for the respective football teams, but they also mean the realization of yet another big goal for the operator. Their goal is to play a leading role in the development of football as a sport. 

Ghana Leads the Way

Ghana is an area of strong focus for 10bet.

A big part of the reason for this is that Ghana is experiencing enormous growth in mobile internet capacity and connectivity. 

Since Ghana is already saturated with online betting operators, 10bet has identified the region as the perfect opportunity to ink several new partnerships with important existing role-players. 

CEO Arthur Perry Weighs in

Weighing in on all the excitement has been 10bet CEO Arthur Perry. 

According to the celebrated chief executive, 10bet’s enormous success in Africa is a result of hard work, planning, and strategizing. 

Perry said that as such, it’s super exciting to finally be able to present premium online betting and gaming options to African bettors. No matter the regulatory and technological challenges faced, he said, 10bet is up to it. 

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29-year-old Augustine Miles Kelechi AKA Tekno Miles will front a series of promotional content for Bitcasino’s cryptocurrency platform. The aim of this is to attract more African players to the site. One of the main marketing campaigns will be to offer a “true VIP experience” hosted by Kelechi himself. 

What Does the VIP Experience Entail? 

Bitcasino is making use of Tekno Miles’ immense popularity throughout the region to market this VIP offer. Players who purchase the VIP experience will be able to access certain “money-can’t-buy” products. These include the chance to watch Premier League Football matches from an executive box with Tekno Miles. 

The director of Bitcasino, Tauri Tiitsaar expressed his delight at Tekno Miles’ decision to join the company’s marketing team. He added that everyone at the company is a huge fan of Miles’ creative talent. They hope that he can transfer his innovative approach to music-making to the brand’s marketing campaigns. 

The company has set its sights on various regions throughout the continent. They’re starting with West Africa, where betting with cryptocurrency is steadily on the rise. Tiitsaar explained that the company’s objectives are increasing education about cryptocurrencies. They’re also focusing on creating more entertainment options for their customers. 

Miles Kelechi has stated his excitement at joining the Bitcasino team. He cites the fun and fair nature of the company as the main reason he agreed to the partnership. 

The post Tekno Miles Named BitCasino Global Ambassador appeared first on gamblers.africa.

It also allows DPO Group to operate as an independent payment solutions provider. They provide services in Nigeria well as over 20 other African countries. 

DPO Group provides services to over 60,000 active businesses, including eCommerce companies, airlines, and travel agents in a wide variety of payment methods and currency options. Furthermore, DPO Group has garnered a reputation for providing a trustworthy and steadfast network. With local and international channels, it is known and trusted for having good security. It is also known for efficient customer support. Especially in concern to fraud, refunds, chargebacks, etc.

Ecommerce Growth

Nigeria has experienced significant growth in eCommerce over recent years. Digital payments have steadily become a standard in the country. Approximately 7.7 billion people and businesses in Nigeria are expected to utilize online payments by 2025. This indicates a 45 percent increase since 2019.

Eran Feinstein, the CEO of DPO Group, says that Nigeria is a key market in Africa. He believes the country to be one of the most innovative in Africa when it comes to fintech and eCommerce.

Excitement is now growing around the new license and DPO Group’s new services. Nigerian businesses and online customers can now look forward to greater options. As well as smoother and more secure digital payment. This is expected to greatly improve business and opportunity within the country.

A New Payment Option

DPO Group has announced plans to launch a new comprehensive payment solution, called “DPO Pay”. It will be available in Africa, and across their customer base.

Country Manager of DPO Group Nigeria, Chidinma Aroyewun, expressed excitement at the opportunity. He looks forward to helping businesses and eCommerce grow.DPO Group is not the only payment provider in Nigeria though. With others, such as Flutterwave and Paystack dominating, the addition of DPO Group will bolster competition in the market. Sports betting companies are expected to benefit the most. They will now have a host of new payment options to work with and provide quality service to their customers. Additionally, there is now an ever-greater opportunity for up-and-coming startup brands and companies. In turn, this creates greater potential for success in Africa’s bustling eCommerce and betting industries.

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According to reports, the provider’s games are being delivered to the operator’s customers via software provider Aardvark. The gaming offerings went live on 1 February.

South Africa a Key Market

Pragmatic Play’s chief business development officer, Yossi Barzely said that signing the deal was an important event for the provider. Playbet is one of South Africa’s leading gambling brands. The deal will help make it possible for them to make their ambitions in the marketplace a reality.

Barzely also said that he was sure players will appreciate the increased amount of good quality gaming options they’ll have access to.

Playbet’s chief marketing officer, George Vasilopoulos thanked Aardvark and the provider for the good development and compliance work. He added that the deal makes it possible for the operator’s customers to access more than 200 award-winning games and promotions. Vasilopoulos also said that he was excited about increasing the operator’s online portfolio with Pragmatic Play. 

The wide array of Pragmatic Play games that Playbet customers can choose from includes numerous top-rated slots. Gates of Olympus, Day of Dead, Voodoo Magic, Dragon Tiger, Book of the Fallen and the Ultimate 5 are just a few.

Among the live casino games are options such as Sweet Bonanza Candyland, ONE Blackjack, Mega Roulette, Mega Sic Bo, and Baccarat. A few of the provider’s popular virtual sports titles include Penalty Shootout, Fantastic League, and Horse Racing.

A Trusted Game Provider

Pragmatic Play launched in 2015 and since has opened offices in different parts of the world. The provider has offices in Malta, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, South Africa, Wales, Canada, Germany, India, Russia and China. 

Their software is licensed by respected gambling authorities such as the Malta Gaming Authority, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, and the government of Gibraltar. This assures players that the game results are fair.

Thanks to HTML5, the games are compatible with a range of devices including Android and iOS smartphones. Players can play the slots and other games in their devices’ web browsers. There is no need to download software or apps.

Pragmatic Play produces as many as 5 new slots per month as well as live casino, virtual sport and online Bingo games.

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The Director-General of the Oyo State Gaming Board opened the occasion after which the awards began. Addressing the attendees in a welcome speech, the DG stated the vital role of responsible betting as an avenue for the creation of more regional businesses. Urging companies to continue developing the industry, the Director further encouraged corporate heads and company leaders to pursue sustainability and equip their personnel competently.

The Expert Council included regional heads and top officials from various fields, including heads of media, corporate bodies, and large public organizations. The aim was to portray and develop responsible betting principles, identification of companies in line with these principles, and also create conditions for such growth across borders. This is why Melbet was bestowed with the award in line with the company’s long-standing history of customer support value to punters. 

Melbet in the Nigerian gambling landscape

Melbet is a sports betting company owned by Tutkia, a company based in Cyprus and driven by the need to provide value. Melbet Nigeria is operated by Pelican Entertainment Ltd. and has risen to one of the best betting companies in Nigeria. Since it started operations in Nigeria in 2012, Melbet has set the bar high for different gambling companies to follow. 

One of such bars is customer satisfaction and amazing gambling odds. The Nigerian sports betting market is growing rapidly and always calls for the most innovative ideas to get a favorable market share. This is why Melbet always goes for innovation first, which can be seen in its first-in-class mobile betting apps.

So, whichever game you decide to bet on, Melbet provides punters with the leverage to make money from their sports passion. To deepen its relevance, the company took some laudable steps to make its user interface more appealing, and introduced additional features. The platform offers markets for all sports events, which means you can bet on your favorite games with ease. 

In particular, you can wager on more than 1,000 events, while live betting, casino games, and virtual sports are also available. Melbet always practices responsible gambling. This means you must be at least 18 years old to engage in gambling of any kind on the platform. 

Keeping with the Market

Perhaps not everyone understands why Melbet has received this award. Customer service is one of the most important aspects of online gambling. Prior to this award, Melbet indeed made its mark as a preeminent leader in providing robust safety and protection of data.

The head company in Europe complies with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 of the EU. As a result, the collection, processing, and retention of punters’ information within secure means are of topmost priority to the company. In the same light, Melbet Nigeria also complies with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation in making all player data confidential. 

It’s for this reason that Melbet offers unbeatable customer support to players. In addition to this, Melbet also provides cutting-edge mobile apps, jaw-dropping bonuses, and promotions, innovative payment solutions, to mention a few. With all these features, it’s hoped that other betting companies in Nigeria will take a cue from Melbet.   

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 As provided in the contract, gamers in Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya will now be able to play Lotto Instant Win and access additional PinProjekt products, in addition to South Africans. PinProjekt CCO, Ivan Grkovi, explained the development, saying, “The dedicated commitment our team has indeed been putting in for years is paying off,” adding that “the best mark of collaborations, like the one above, is the best proof of our persistent success.”

This is important to keep in mind that PinProjekt’s Lotto Instant Win solutions have maintained a strong presence in the instant win marketplaces. The Lotto Instant Win solution, which includes up to 2,500 daily drawings, over 20 games, and four mainstream studios, will be merged into Betway’s African services. But it is also unclear when the feature will be effectively adopted, the two firms will continue to deliberate with the goal of offering the greatest quick win solutions to millions of African gamers by 2022.

According to an announcement from the game developer, the agreement is in line with their “complete globalization” approach, and Betway is expected to significantly promote access to the company’s Lotto Instant Win products in new and emerging gaming countries.

Pinprojekt was launched into the South African market through a “comprehensive distribution agreement” by 1609 Industrial Group Limited. All of its solutions are consistent with transparency and fairness methods that ensure the games are not rigged, thanks to BMM Testlabs’ certification of its live suite and other services.

Africa’s Complete Lotto Instant Win Gaming

Since its inception in 2007, Pinprojekt has specialized in the development of live lottery games and Hold’em Poker. This company, based in Zagreb, Croatia, provides Teletext and integration solutions that assist gambling operators in maximizing the value of their brands while delivering slashing gameplay to players. Betway, on either hand, requires no explanation in the global and African gambling sector, because it powers one of the world’s top successful digital gaming systems.

Betway exists in nine African nations, representing a large portion of the African betting industry, giving the bookmaker some influence. Considering Betway’s market share, the partnership with Pinprojekt promises to even provide Africa with best-in-class Lotto Instant Win solutions.

Provided that the organization now has four studios in various places of which drawings are processed live, another studio may also be added in the future months to accommodate draws for African participants.

Having started from South Africa and expanding to Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria, and Ghana, it is believed that players would be fully compensated for their efforts. Because of the BMM Testlabs accreditation, you may be confident in your security and safety when participating in live lottery games.

Sources

• Casinobeats.com
• Lotterydaily.com
• Pinprojekt.com

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