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Kenyan authorities are reviewing gambling advertising guidelines and the possibility of introducing affordability checks, according to the head of the country’s gambling regulator.
Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) chair Dr Jane Mwikali Makau, who is also a reverend, said a team from multiple government agencies has been created to undertake the review that will “sanitise” the country.
The team will look at preventing underage gambling, restricting advertising, as well as possible financial thresholds players will need to meet before placing a bet, she said during a speech on Friday (May 16).
“We need to sensitise communities on the effects of betting and make them understand that you only stake that which you can afford to lose,” Makau said.
All betting adverts were suspended by the BCLB for 30 days on April 29 because promoters failed to comply with guidelines on responsible marketing.
The regulator also issued a warning, saying it “has been alarmed by the rising cases of youth frustrations, financial ruin, and even tragic loss of life linked to Aviator gambling”.
Earlier, Kenya’s Ministry of Health outlined the government's response over “deep concern” about increasing gambling addiction in the community, particularly among young people, that is “driven by the popularity of online gambling platforms such as Aviator”.
Kenya’s government estimates that 17 percent of the population aged 15 to 65 years are “grappling with some form of substance use disorder”.
The ministry is supporting a multi-agency study to assess gambling addiction prevalence and its community impact to inform future policy.
Sasa Krneta, the chairperson of the Association of Gaming Operations Kenya (AGOK) and country manager at MozzartBet Kenya, welcomed the news.
“We promote responsible gambling and all we want is to ensure that Kenyans only bet what they can afford to lose. As operators, we are willing to do everything to ensure there is compliance and the livelihoods of communities are not destroyed by gambling,” he told local media.
Makau also announced the launch of the Chukua Control ("take control") slogan as part of a wider responsible gambling campaign. The initiative aims to be a national “wake-up call” as Kenya looks to change the culture of gambling.
She said the campaign “reflects a sector that is not only evolving, but rising to higher standards of social accountability and national interest”.
“At the BCLB, our role extends beyond regulation. We are stewards of public confidence, enforcers of integrity, and partners in national development.
“We remain unwavering in our commitment to promote safe, ethical, and fair gaming practices, align gaming regulation with public health and safety objectives, and hold all licensees accountable to both the law and moral duty,” Makau said.
The BCLB has been asked how this will impact the proposed Gambling Control Bill 2023, but it has yet to comment.
