The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has given a raft of recommendations for Members of Parliament, Kenyans and regulatory authorities like the Media Council and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to help it better regulate gambling.
This followed the board’s suspension of all gambling advertisements for the next 30 days.
It urged the National Assembly to hasten the process of passing the Gambling Control Bill, which the board said would give the board the much-needed authority to better regulate the betting industry.
“The National Assembly is urged to expedite the enactment of the Gambling Control Bill to empower the sector regulator with enhanced enforcement and supervisory powers,” BCLB chairperson Jane Mwikali said.
She encouraged Kenyans to file any complaints they might have with the board or the nearest police stations for investigations and immediate action to be taken, in case there are violations.
The board further asked the Media Council of Kenya to finalise and operationalise the new programming code.
“The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) is requested to finalise and operationalise new guidelines to replace the programming code declared unconstitutional, in full compliance with the court ruling.”
BCLB also requested the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to undertake immediate measures to block and deactivate all foreign unlicensed gambling websites operating within the territory of the Republic of Kenya.
It said this is in a bid to safeguard consumers and uphold the integrity of the sector.
Mwikali, while suspending the advertisements, said the government has noted, with grave concern, the proliferation of gambling activities across the country.
The gambling activities include betting, gaming, lottery prize competitions, and all related promotional undertakings
Mwikali said some gambling promoters are increasingly mischaracterising gambling as a legitimate investment opportunity and a shortcut to wealth creation.
This, she said, has occasioned adverse socioeconomic consequences, with devastating effects on individuals, families, and the broader community.
