Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has directed the IT firm hosting the Betin web domain to bring it down. The firm’s web has since not been responsive following the ongoing dispute between the Betin and the Betting Control and Licensing Board.
What was once thought to be a technical hitch by the Betin Customer’s turned out to be a cash of interest that has clamped its operations since late last month, grounding the betting company’s online transactions. Through a notice sent to Parliament, by Betin, the communications regulator had ordered Deep Africa, the tech firm hosting it to shut down its internet web domain.
“The Communications Authority has proceeded to instruct the web hosting organisation, Deep Africa Limited, to shut down the company’s internet web domain www.betin.co.ke,” reads part of the letter to the Senate committee.
Among the 27 companies whose betting licences had not been renewed after June 30, pending the outcome of an inquiry about their suitability to operate in the country was Betin. The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) ordered Safaricom on July 10 to suspend M-Pesa payment systems and SMS codes for 27 betting firms, including SportPesa and Betin., saying their operating licences for the year starting July 1 were not up to date.
Its M-Pesa Paybill was disenabled preventing new deposits that are used to place bets on mobile phones and to pay those who win. Betin Kenya together with SportPesa have launched a court fight for Safaricom to unblock M-Pesa pay bills and SMS short codes the telco suspended following a government order. According to Betin, withdrawal of the operating licence was illegal, arguing it had a court order stopping the recall of its permit.
