EXPERTS KENYA Kenya launches AML probe focusing on betting operations 2 years ago Iwo Bulski Post Views: 939 Interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i has highlighted gambling as a potential money laundering risk, increasing the government’s focus on the industry. It comes after 11 companies were cleared to receive gambling licences. The authorities say many operators still do not meet requirements. Matiang’i’s new report warns that betting firm owners could be using their companies to launder billions of shillings. It’s expected that the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) may require more disclosures on the cash used to pay jackpots, which have reached as high as Sh250 million (€2m) amid a boom in betting that has resisted government attempts to clampdown through higher taxes and tougher licence conditions. Business Daily Africa reported that the CBK may also look more closely at players who make large transactions or put significant funds in betting wallets as well as those making smaller but regular bets. “The risks for money laundering were assessed to be high for the owners of betting firms. The money laundering risk was noted where proceeds from sports betting could be co-mingled with funds from predictable crimes and passed off as genuine winnings with a possible collusion on who takes the winnings which are later either reverted into the syndicate or transferred outside the country,” – adds the report. The law does not currently require betting firms to report suspicious transactions to the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), despite lobbying from the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA). However, the state has stepped up its oversight of the industry in the last two years. In 2020, the FRC launched an inquiry into SportPesa for possible money laundering. And earlier this month, the Betting Control and Licensing Board reported that the majority of betting and gaming firms had not complied with licensing requirements. The Communications Authority of Kenya ordered mobile network operators to stop issuing ICT platforms and services, including USSDs, shortcodes, and paybill numbers to betting, gaming and lottery operators who had not renewed their Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) licences. The BCLB has since cleared 11 operators to receive licences. Source: focusgn.com About Post Author Iwo Bulski Issues related to the gambling business is engaged in more than 30 years. My empirical experience gives me the opportunity to present events and companies from this business with full knowledge and industry knowledge. See author's posts Iwo BulskiIssues related to the gambling business is engaged in more than 30 years. My empirical experience gives me the opportunity to present events and companies from this business with full knowledge and industry knowledge. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Tags: betting company, Betting Control and Licensing Board, Central Bank of Kenya, Kenya Continue Reading Previous Digital scams have hit Kenya’s gambling and travel industryNext Money laundering: ECOWAS agency fingers Nigerian casinos More Stories EXPERTS UGANDA Uganda’s government cashes out from gambling boom 4 hours ago Iwo Bulski EXPERTS WORLD NEWS The evolution of online gaming in the USA 4 hours ago Szarlot EXPERTS UGANDA 1000 Ugandan students drop out annually-reason is gambling 1 day ago Szarlot EXPERTS NIGERIA Africa Surges to Become Third Largest E-gaming Market With 186M Players 4 days ago Samuel EXPERTS NIGERIA Binance executives detained in Nigeria 5 days ago Samuel EGYPT EXPERTS The huge opportunities of fintech in middle east and Africa 6 days ago Samuel EXPERTS NIGERIA Binance Exits Nigeria, Government Launches Crypto Inquiry 6 days ago Samuel EXPERTS WORLD NEWS Entain to review brands and units after reporting £879m loss 1 week ago Szarlot EXPERTS NIGERIA The Future of Gaming Unveiled at AGE LAGOS 2024! 1 week ago Samuel EXPERTS SOUTH AFRICA SiGMA Africa 2024: Reshaping South Africa’s igaming landscape 1 week ago Samuel EXPERTS SOUTH AFRICA SiGMA Africa 2024: Explore SiGMA’s Cape Town summit 1 week ago Iwo Bulski EXPERTS SOUTH AFRICA EGT Digital to showcase slots, instant games and betting platform in SIGMA Africa 1 week ago Iwo Bulski Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.