Gor Mahia FC has unveiled betting firm Betafriq as its new shirt sponsor. The record KPL champions signed a 3-year deal worth Ksh76.5 million a year.
The deal includes Ksh5 million for kitting and Ksh1.5 million for players’ insurance. On hand to receive the dummy cheque at the ceremony on Tuesday, 12th July were club chairman Ambrose Rachier and secretary general Sam Ocholla.
It is expected to ease financial pressure on the club when it comes to payment of salaries and bonuses as well as logistical costs in coming seasons. Marred by FIFA’s suspension of the country and mismanagement, the local football scene has been in dire straits with clubs and players the biggest casualties.
The deal continues the trend of sports betting firms being the biggest source of sponsorships for Kenyan clubs. The deal follows the exit of Gor’s former sponsors, Betsafe, who terminated their sponsorship of the club in June 2022.
Betsafe also terminated its deal with AFC Leopards, another of Kenya’s largest football clubs which has sinced announced yet another betting firm, Spotika, as their new sponsor in a Ksh60 million deal.
Sportika and Betafriq are one of only 3 betting firms who had their licenses renewed for the new 2022/23 financial year, drastically reducing the size of the market with at least 97 betting firms losing out on their licences. Betika also had its license renewed.
- Betafriq, Spotika and Betika are owned by Pesa Bets Ltd, Silicon Solutions Ltd and Shop and Deliver Ltd respectively.
The government has in recent years sought to crackdown on the sector. Giant betting brands including SportPesa, Odibets and Mozzart Bets are among firms which haven’t had their licenses renewed yet.
The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) informed telcos to take action against non-compliant firms. The firms primarily receive deposits via mobile money platforms M-Pesa, Airtel Money and T-Kash.
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