SportPesa Resumes Operations in Kenya 15 Months After License was Revoked

Giant gaming company, SportPesa has resumed operations in Kenya more than a year after its license was withdrawn by the government.

SportPesa’s trading license was revoked by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) in July 2019 over failure to pay taxes amounting to billions of shillings.

In light of its taxation and regulatory tussle with the government, which saw its license canceled, SportPesa suspended operations in Kenya in September 2019.

On Friday, the company announced it has been allowed to return to the Kenyan market after a 15-month hiatus.

“SportPesa is delighted to resume operations in Kenya. We are pleased to once again offer gaming services to our customers,” the company’s statement read.

“Over the coming months, we are excited to explore a wide range of new partnerships in the country.”

SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri also confirmed the return of the bookmaker through his social media pages.

“SportPesa is back! I’m happy to announce that the SportPesa brand is back under a new BCLB licence holder. As market leaders, SportPesa will focus on upholding the highest standards of service and responsible gaming. We look forward to working closely with BCLB and all other stakeholders.”

“We are excited to explore a wide range of partnerships in Kenya over the coming weeks and months, which will prioritise the development of sports in communities across our great country,” he said.