Nairobi, May 1 -- The number of betting firms licensed to operate in Kenya increased by 29 from September last year as increased taxation failed to deter the entry of more players into the multi-billion-shilling industry.

A list published by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) shows that there were 128 licensed companies at the end of January, up from 99 last September.

Some of the new companies are Ditimac Limited, Sky Gaming Kenya, Genius Bet, Gameshow Limited, Duchang Kenya, Sahara Game Technology, Life is a Game, Meziz Bet, Masaa Bet, Sabanzuri Limited, and Mawingu Technologies.

The increase in the number of betting companies comes despite high taxes the firms are taxed on the gross gaming revenue at a rate of 15 percent...