Matiang’i move on betting companies’ shutdown is not good

The decision by the Government to block mobile money and SMS short codes run by betting firms is not good. The claim that the firms are tax cheats is an excuse so that the Government can prey on the betting industry.

Suppose the claim of tax evasion is valid, the Government is mandated, through its regulatory agencies, to form a tribunal to investigate the allegations. If acts of dishonesty are revealed, regulators have the backing of the law to approve hefty fines. Some people in the Government are envious of the privately-owned betting firms. There have been sustained attacks on the industry players for a long time.