NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 21 – A Canadian company engaged in gaming technology and solution provisions has been allowed to continue with its public lottery by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB).
A letter dated February 19 by the chairman of the BCLB Lucas Maitha says the lottery will run until May 31 with effect from February 13.
The letter stipulates nine requirements that the company must fulfil during the course of the lottery among them giving unlimited access to its lottery systems to the BCLB and conducting its lotteries in the presence of gaming inspectors.
“Note that you shall be conducting a lottery and not a promotion hence all your communications to the public shall convey it as a lottery,” the letter copied to the PS Ministry of Home Affairs, Safaricom CEO, and the CCK Director General states.
The company will be required to submit names of winners and proof of collection of prizes won and already, it has widely publicised one of its winners.
Amaya which is listed on Toronto Stock Exchange engages in design development manufacture and sale of technology-based gaming solutions like lotteries and casinos.
The company which has operations in 13 countries across five continents says it will revolutionise the gaming industry in Kenya which has been bogged by controversies.
Amaya\’s Vice President in-charge Government Projects Benjamin Ahdoot assured Kenyans that theirs was a credible and accountable business in contrast to other similar businesses.
"Amaya has provided the Government of Kenya an irrevocable financial facility to address its obligation to meet the terms of its licence, including the requirement to distribute the prize pool in a timely and efficient manner," Mr Ahdoot told Capital News in an interview.
"Amaya has adopted a fully transparent open book policy providing complete access to all its accounting and operating records to Kenyan authorities."
"Our commitment to the Republic of Kenya is demonstrated by our significant long-term investments in Kenya, including but not limited to capital, IT, employment and execution of a long-term lease in Nairobi for premises situated at the I&M Bank tower," Mr Ahdoot emphasised.
While granting the licence, Mr Maitha said: "The background and due diligence investigations of Amaya revealed that it is a credible company that is worthy of the license granted to it to operate a full scale lottery in Kenya. We have full confidence in Amaya and are assured of its competence as well as its commitment to the utmost adherence to Kenyan law and regulatory standards."
According to the company, more than 50 percent of the proceeds of the lottery will go to benefit the country either through taxes, charity and prizes.
