SportPesa, the online gaming firm will take long before setting up business in the country.
After starting its operations SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri announced that the company was back in business via Twitter, the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) Saturday suspended the license of Mile Stone Gaming Limited which was to operate as Sportpesa.
But Betting and Licensing Board (BCLB) chairman Cyrus Maina claimed that the betting firm went behind their back to get the go-ahead.
“The matter before the Court of Appeal contests the issuance of the gaming license to M/S Pevans E.A Ltd t/a “Sportpesa”. The matter is scheduled to be heard on November 16, 2020. As at now, M/S Pevans E.A Ltd, the known owners of the trade name “Sportpesa” is not licensed to operate any gaming business in Kenya,” said BCLB Chairman Cyrus Kibera Maina.
Sportpesa used to sponsor Kenyan Premier League, clubs like Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards were halted its operations in Kenya over 16 months ago.
On Saturday, BCLB revealed that M/S Mile Stone Games Limited, which is a licensed operator with a trading name “Mile Stone Bet,” wrote to the Board on Friday informing them that it had acquired a new trading name “Sportpesa”.
In the letter, BCLB says Mile Stone Bet indicated that they had received authorization to use the trade name from M/S Sportpesa Global Holdings Ltd for a period of five years.
In addition to use the trade name “Sportpesa”, the gaming operator informed the Board that the company will also utilize the various domains, paybills and shortcodes earlier used by M/S Pevans E.A Ltd “Sportpesa.”