By chief editor
Much have been said online and on air about betting in Kenya with people who are allergic to change on the forefront maligning betting firms calling them fraudsters and cons. This is normal for those who lose in the game. Gambling is not illegal and it is restricted to adults of sound mind.
No one really forces you to bet. It is your own personal decision. Furthermore am sure you would not be happy to have someone controlling you how you spend your hard earned income. It is simply not tenable.
Those who are bitter of betting firms are those who want to control the large monies pouring in (in this case politicians) and losers in the gambling game. Let us dwell on a different matter. Sporpesa has emerged as the leader in the industry. This has set it in collision with all forces that be!
Sportpesa CEO Ronald Karauri has denied claims that his company may in some way involved be engaged in money laundering.
Appearing on Jeff Koinange’s Live Show a few weeks ago, Karauri, said that the sports betting giant is a credible and tax-compliant organisation revealing that they paid Sh700 million in financial year 2015/2016. This is a huge plus to our economy. Sport pesa now joins the league of top Kenyan tax paying companies.
“It is not right to say that Sportpesa could be engaged in money laundering because we are a successful betting company. We are a genuine company engaged in real business and that is why we pay taxes to KRA,” said Karauri.
“Many people know only about the big sponsorships but we got very many other tournaments happening across the country that we sponsor,” added Karauri.
However, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo who was also in the program argued that there existed several loopholes in the money mobile transfer law that could encourage money laundering.
“The government has to decide whether it want individuals to have more money than the State. We must all agree on a debated discourse. I am very worried that these very many betting companies could be engaged in money laundering,” Midiwo said.
The MP said a law that would among other things curb addiction to betting need to be enacted in the near future.
But again the CEO of sportpesa is one brave man, he and his company, he said, are working tirelessly to ensure atleast a law controlling betting is introduced. As a company Sportpesa has tried hard to control betting by even introducing a betting limit of ksh20000.
“We have been pushing for regulation through the association of gaming; for them to update and put proper regulation and ensure due diligence…. And if MPs are being honest in pushing for regulation, all they need to do is to go to the regulator,” says Mr Karauiri
“What the MPs have been talking about – that the US does not allow online and mobile phone betting – their case is special because they have Las Vegas; because when you go online, it means you will reduce traffic to Vegas.”
Though, Mr Karauri reads malice in the bid by MPs to impose draconian regulations on the industry, saying the bid is driven by rumours of SportPesa’s purported big income, not statistics. “Rumours that ‘SportPesa are paying Sh6 billion to Hull (City), which is a wrong figure,”
Meanwhile SPORTPESA has grown to be the largest if not the sole sponsor of virtually every tornament in the country. It is sponsoring more than 36 tournaments across the country. Among them are big tournaments some turned into leagues. Kenya Motor Sport Federation (KMSF) is under Sportpesa sponsorship with Leonardo Veresse and Kigo Kareithi, in 2WD rally category. This rally team would not have lived their passion were it not for SportPesa. Leonardo is very talented and skillful in rally driving. He has raised the banner for competition and professionalism in his category. He regained his title in 2015 after we took over the sponsorship to become 4 time 2WD champion. Among other sponsorships under Sportpesa are The Late Francis W. Maingi soccer tournament in Kitui, Boxing OKSA academy (Omar Kasongo Sports Academy) in Kibera, Boxing Association Of Kenya, Wambia Memorial soccer tournament in Kakamega In memory of Wambia, SportPesa Premier league (Football), SportPesa Super 8 leagues and tournament, KPL-U20 championships, AFC Leopards, Gor Mahia among others!
The notion that Sportpesa is making a lot of money is really making people jealous and thus maligning the company right left and centre. It is normal for any successful man to have enemies who are always trying to bring him down.
I wish sportpesa all the best in their endeavors.
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