Sports betting firm Nanovas International (K) Limited, trading as betPawa, on Monday moved to court to challenge a govt directive that cancelled its operational license.
betPawa is one of 27 betting firms targeted by gambling regulator Betting Control and Licenses Board (BCLB) for allegedly failing to comply with various regulations.
Last week Wednesday, BCLB directed mobile money service providers; Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom Kenya to withdraw pay bill numbers and SMS codes of the betting companies.
In court papers filed yesterday, betPawa claims BCLB acted without any prior notification, involvement or their participation.
betPawa, in an affidavit by Cynthia Onyango, argues that it stands to suffer monumental losses and exposure as a result of the government’s “unlawful” actions, adding that it does not only affect them but its employees, stakeholders and members of the general public.
The bookmaker wants to be allowed to continue utilizing its pay bill numbers and short codes without any interference by the regulator pending hearing and determination of the case.
The case has been certified as urgent and hearing set for Wednesday, July 17, 2019.
