Nairobians are set to be slapped with new tax measures and rules as the county aims to regulate the gambling industry.
The proposed gambling laws are contained in the Nairobi City County Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Bill 2020 which pushes for the introduction of a Betting Act.
Under the proposed laws, an entertainment tax on all betting, lotteries and gaming licenses chargeable at a rate of 20 per cent on the gross winnings of all betting, lotteries and gaming is set to be imposed.
Culture and Community Services Committee Chairperson Mwangi Njahia emphasized on the need to regulate the growing industry.
"The increase in the size of the county population necessitated the drafting of the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Bill, 2020," he explained.
Betting, lotteries and game draw permits will be charged Ksh 5,000 per draw according to the proposed laws that are on the second reading at the Nairobi County Assembly.
Casinos in the capital will part with Ksh 300,000 as an annual fee, Ksh 200,000 as a transfer fee and will also be charged a grant fee of Ks h100,000 and another Ksh 10, 000 as application or renewal fee.
To own a betting premise, businessmen will be charged a fee of Ksh 600,000 as well as application and renewal fee of Ksh 10,000.
The business owners will also suffer additional costs as they are set to pay Ksh 30,000 annual fee per premise as well as Ksh 10,000 as transfer fee per premise.
A totalisator (a device showing the number and amount of bets staked) premises licence, grant fee will go for Ksh 200,000 and an additional Ksh 100,000 annual and transfer fee is also set to be imposed as well as Ksh 10,000 for an application or renewal fee.
A public lottery license will set back business owners Ksh4 Million, Ksh1 Million as an application or renewal fee with a further Ksh 500,000 for the annual permit fee and Ksh 25,000 as transfer application fee.
The Bill also proposes penalties and fines of up to Ksh1 Million.
