Betting Control and Licensing Board bans gambling adverts for 30 days

The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has suspended all gambling advertisements for the next one month in a move to tackle the growing crisis of addiction especially among the youth.

In a statement, BCLB Chairperson Jane Mwikali also announced the formation of a multi-agency team to come up with stronger controls aimed at promoting responsible gambling and protecting the public.

“The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) hereby orders the immediate suspension of all gambling advertisements and testimonials across all media platforms for thirty (30) days with effect from the date of this statement,” Mwikali said in a statement.

The ban will cover radio and TV ads, social media, newspapers, billboards, SMS, email campaigns, and celebrity or influencer promotions.

All the licensed operators have been ordered to stop the advertisement activities and submit any gambling ads to the Kenya Film Classification Board for approval.

They have also been required to comply with all relevant laws and take steps to promote responsible gambling.

According to BCLB, some promoters have been presenting gambling as a fast path to wealth, drawing in vulnerable groups, including minors.

“Some gambling promoters are increasingly mischaracterizing gambling as a legitimate investment opportunity and a shortcut to wealth creation. Gambling has caused devastating effects on individuals, families, and the broader community,” Mwikali said as she highlighted the widespread airing of betting ads during watershed hours when children are likely to be watching.

The multi-agency enforcement team will bring together officials from several key government bodies, including the Ministry of Interior, Office of the Attorney General, Communications Authority, Kenya Revenue Authority, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Kenya Film Classification Board, Media Council of Kenya, Financial Reporting Centre, and BCLB itself.

The team will be responsible for formulating policy recommendations and enforcement strategies to ensure that gambling practices are safe and regulated.

In addition, BCLB has put forward several proposals to strengthen regulation, including asking the National Assembly to fast-track the Gambling Control Bill, urging the Media Council to finalise new content guidelines by reenacting the programming code that was thrown out by the courts, and the Communications Authority to block unlicensed foreign betting websites operating within Kenya’s territory.

“The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is requested to undertake immediate measures to block and deactivate all foreign unlicensed gambling websites operating within the territory of the Republic of Kenya,” She directed.

Mwikali also called on members of the public to report any violations to either the police or BCLB directly.