The Ugly Side of Regulations
Betin was a well-known betting brand in Kenya at the time, with successful operations both online and across its extensive retail network. At its peak, Betin had more than 500 retail shops.
In October 2019, Betin indefinitely closed its operations.
By November 2019, hundreds of employees were suddenly rendered jobless, left to either seek employment with other betting companies, start a business, or find an entirely different career path.
The question is: Betin had hundreds of employees, so who was going to accommodate all of them? Was that even practical?
Of course, the answer was no.
Many of those employees could not find employment for some time, while others eventually left the industry altogether.
This is the ugly side of regulations the human side that is often overlooked.
Not many people talk about the employees who are directly affected. Not many ask how they will survive, pay their bills, support their families, or simply put food on the table.
Let’s call her Mercury.
Mercury was working at Betin when the company closed its operations, leaving her without a job. After several attempts, she eventually found employment with another betting company that operated both online and through retail outlets.
But there is another challenge that employees in Kenya’s gambling industry often face.
Because the industry is considered high-risk, employees working in gambling companies can face difficulties when seeking financial services such as bank loans. There is an underlying uncertainty that comes with the industry employees can wake up one day and find that regulatory changes have completely affected the company they work for.
There are also organizations that provide workplace welfare services to employees across different industries, but gambling companies are not always given the same opportunities to access such services.
Fast-forward to 2026.
A few months ago, Mercury had no idea that regulations would once again render her jobless.
The company she was working for could no longer afford the renewal fees for its licenses. Then, one day, she woke up to the sad news that the company could not continue operating.
Once again, she found herself asking:
Is the industry really this volatile?
When regulations are enforced, can we also consider the employees whose livelihoods and families are affected?
Mercury was paying school fees for two children. Someone else might have been servicing a loan from a SACCO or a bank.
There could be a family member relying on their salary to pay for medical treatment.
Someone could have been supporting elderly parents or paying for their medication.
These are the people behind the statistics.
And this is where the damage becomes real.
The question is: Who is standing in the gap for these employees?
Operators have associations that speak on their behalf, represent their interests, and engage regulators.
But what about the employees?
They are often left hanging, with little representation and no clear idea of what happens to them when regulatory decisions suddenly affect their jobs.
Yes, rules and regulations are necessary to maintain order and protect society.
But what happens when thousands of people suddenly become jobless?
What happens to their families, their loans, their children’s school fees, their medical bills, and their day-to-day lives?
Regulation is important, but so is employee welfare.
As the industry continues to evolve, I hope that employee welfare will also be considered whenever major regulatory decisions are being made.
Because behind every company, every licence, and every regulation are people.
And ultimately, we all have to find a way to butter our bread.
Thank you for reading.