Nairobi, April 28 -- Betting companies face higher operating costs following plans to introduce a licence fee of up to Sh300,000 for key employees.

The permit fee for foreigners holding the key roles will be Sh300,000, while Kenyans will pay Sh50,000, under the Gambling Control Licensing Regulations, 2026.

Foreign shareholders or directors will pay Sh300,000 for a licence, while the locals will part with Sh100,000. Additionally, there will be an application fee of between Sh10,000 and Sh50,000.

Betting firms will pay the licence fees for their staff, which is expected to significantly drive the cost of business in the multibillion-shilling gambling sector, whose popularity has risen in recent years.

Betting firms currently pay three t...