The company withdrew local sponsorship. [Photo|@TheStarKenya]Kenyans have expressed mixed reactions after betting firm SportPesa withdrew its sponsorship contracts in the country on Tuesday.The company withdrew local sponsorship after losing a court case challenging new laws imposing 35% tax on gross betting proceeds.On social media, many Kenyans seemed to agree with government's decision as shared below.On Facebook, users said: Boni Khalwale said: "@UKenyatta must resist the blackmail by @SportPesa! This fellows rake in, in excess of 15 billion per annum, without as little as selling any goods or services. They must pay tax! We cannot just turn our country into a national casino!"Robert Alai Onyango said: "If the government will suspend the 35% tax on Gambling, I will immediately withdraw my support for the government. Sportpesa and all the betting forms MUST NOT be allowed to blackmail the President. 35% taxation is low. Should be at least 75%."Ken Okoth said: "SportPesa uses gambling proceeds from Kenya to sponsor Everton. The crumbs they throw in local sponsorships for Kenyan teams is not even a fraction of what they spent on Hull City. Maybe it is time for all betting in Kenya to go under a national lottery. Betting must be taxed, wapende wasipende. (Or we ban it like #shisha)"On Twitter, users said:@Atanasi_ Countries with the highest Gambling Tax Rates Germany -90% France - 80% Austria -80% Luxembourg -80% Denmark -75% Poland - 50% UK -50% Australia - 45% Kenya - 35% ToSportpesa: Stop Playing victim card To GoK: Can you regulate betting or ban it altogether! #BanBettingKe Period!@kuirabSportpesa finally cancels all local sports partnerships. Well, hope with the money collected from the 35% tax the government can channel it to sports@Mwenda254All businesses are taxed. What's so special about@SportPesa that they shouldn't pay tax?@OsamaOteroChurches steal money from the poor. Sportpesa doesn't. The govt should tax these churches..@ItsMutaiThere was sports in Kenya before Sportpesa. In fact we were doing just fine. The tax should be raised to 50%. Betting cartels can go open companies in Tanzania.@LazoojA kenyan Earns 240K per Year is taxed has a wife,Kids and other Family Member to take care of Never Complains of PAYE, SPORTPESA Earns over 15B per Year Use 600M for sponsorship Make a profit of over 8B tax free. Complain of 35% Tax on Profit @SportPesa style up@Martinmwangi_ Sportpesa....... This thing has really demolished young minds therefore the government should bann it completely.... They collect billions yet they pay 30℅ of tax... This is really joking@Ishmael_kipThe govt should increase betting and gambling tax to 50-60%. Sportpesa makes more than 2.5B profit per month. Then get into sponsorship with different local sports entities to a tune of mere 600M per year.

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