The African iGaming Alliance (AiA) and the Association of Gaming Operators of Kenya (AGOK) have penned a three-year MoU aimed at boosting collaboration.
The MoU, signed by AIA CEO Peter Kesitilwe and AGOK chief John Mutua, establishes a framework for closer collaboration on the issues impacting Kenya and the wider African continent.
Such areas of mutual interest include regulatory and public policy engagement, responsible gambling, consumer protection, taxation and payments.
The MoU will also allow for greater exchange of research and insights, with the hope that AGOK’s experiences in Kenya can contribute to wider discussions about the gambling ecosystem in Africa.
Kesitilwe said the partnership would help to strengthen Kenya’s role in shaping the wider African gaming sector, supporting greater cooperation on regulation, responsible gambling and tackling the illegal market.
“Kenya is one of Africa’s most important and dynamic gaming markets, and what happens here increasingly has relevance beyond Kenya’s borders,” Kesitilwe said. “Our partnership with AGOK will create an important bridge between developments in Kenya and the wider continental conversation.”
Meanwhile, Mutua explained the agreement would give Kenya’s regulated operators greater opportunities to share expertise across Africa.
“Through this partnership, we will be able to exchange knowledge and research, learn from developments across other African jurisdictions and contribute Kenya’s own experiences to the continental dialogue,” he outlined.
“We believe that collaboration of this nature can support better policy outcomes, stronger consumer protection and a more sustainable environment for licensed operators.”
Kenyan gambling at a crossroads
The MoU will run for an initial period of three years, although it can be extended if both parties agree.
It extends to opportunities to collaborate on events such as conferences, workshops and roundtables.
The announcement of the MoU arrives at an interesting time for the Kenyan gambling industry.
The landmark Gambling Control Act was introduced last year and was hailed as a positive new era for gambling in Kenya after a period of turbulence.
In July, however, the licensed gambling sector was effectively put on hold after a stay order was issued by the High Court of Kenya, suspending the licensing process due to concerns over the high licence fees.
The stay order was partially suspended, allowing the licensing period to proceed, although the matter has once again raised questions over the stability of the regulatory environment in Kenya.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/regulation/aia-pens-mou-kenyan-gambling-trade-body-agok/
