Kenya to lower gambling tax, but to increase advertising restrictions

Kenya’s gambling operators may yet receive their long-awaited tax relief while possibly facing new restrictions on their ability to market their operations.

’Kenya’s National Finance and Planning committee has proposed to reduce tax on all gambling revenue to 15 per cent and lower the share directed towards social causes to 5 per cent. The existing gambling tax is 35 per cent and share for social causes is 25 per cent.

The present gambling tax rate of 35 per cent tax rate was imposed on January 1, despite betting operators arguing that the new rate would cut their margins by nearly half.  While the proposed tax cut is a good news for gambling industry, the proposal of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) is not very friendly. KFCB has suggested a total ban on gambling advertisings between the prime television time between 5 am and 10 pm. The proposal intends to protect children from ill-effects of gambling addiction.

KFCB CEO Ezekiel Mutua saying his organisation will be “stern” with media outlets that continue to air gambling ads during the watershed period. Mutua put all media houses on notice that legal action would be forthcoming unless they agreed to toe the line.

Source: calvinayre.com