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A new Bill proposing hefty fines and other tough measures on the gambling industry has been tabled in the National Assembly.The Bill has increased permit fees, fines, and jail terms significantly for individuals flouting the Betting, Lottery and Gaming Act.
This is a fresh strategy by MPs to contain the widespread gaming machines all over towns and estates in the country.
The Bill tabled by the National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale yesterday for the first reading is currently under the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill on the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act.
Should it become law, any individual seeking licence and permit to run the gaming businesses will have to part with Sh20 million as security with the Betting Board instead of the current Sh40,000.The owners of these machines risk losing the money should their permits be cancelled over not abiding by these rules.
The new regulations will also demand that not more than two gaming machines operate in one building “or where different parts of a building are occupied by two or more different persons.”