The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has proposed strict new laws aimed at regulating Kenya’s gambling industry. One of the key requirements in the proposed law is that new gamblers will have to take a selfie while holding their National ID and submit it during the registration process.
BCLB Director Peter Mbugi introduced the proposed regulations on Tuesday while speaking to members of the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Finance and Planning at Parliament Buildings.
He said the proposed changes are part of a broader effort to stop people from joining the betting industry casually or without proper identification, especially due to the fast-growing and highly profitable nature of the sector.
In addition to the ID selfie requirement, the proposed law includes a plan to drastically cut down the number of betting firms operating across the country. This is meant to help streamline the sector, improve regulation, and allow the BCLB to monitor activities more effectively.
Mbugi emphasized that one of the main goals of these new rules is to protect minors and prevent underage individuals from participating in gambling, which has become a serious concern in the country.
To help achieve this, the BCLB is also suggesting that the requirements for licensing be tightened, including raising the minimum amount of capital required for any company seeking a license to operate in the gambling industry.
According to the proposal, small-scale betting outlets will now need to show a minimum capital of Ksh50 million in order to be licensed, while larger public gaming companies such as casinos will be required to invest at least Ksh5 billion to qualify for a license.
“For a small betting shop to operate legally, we are recommending a capital base of Sh50 million,” Mbugi explained. “For bigger public operators like casinos, the new law will require them to have Ksh5 billion in capital.”
Online gambling companies and operators of national lotteries will also be affected. Under the proposed law, they will be required to deposit Ksh200 million before receiving a license to begin their operations, once the bill is signed into law by the president.
While addressing the committee, Mbugi revealed that in partnership with the Communications Authority of Kenya, the BCLB has already shut down more than 106 illegal gambling websites. This effort is part of the board’s wider strategy to clean up the industry and ensure that only authorized and well-regulated firms are allowed to operate.
He also highlighted that gambling advertisements will now face tougher restrictions. All gambling-related adverts will have to be reviewed and classified by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) before being aired.
These adverts will also be limited to specific hours to reduce the influence of gambling on the public, especially young people.
“We have placed more control on gambling adverts because they contribute to the rising number of people getting involved in gambling,” Mbugi told the lawmakers. “Moving forward, all gambling ads must first be approved by the KFCB, and since gambling is considered adult content, it will only be allowed on media platforms after the watershed period.”
These sweeping changes by the BCLB are aimed at ensuring the gambling industry operates in a more responsible, transparent, and regulated manner, while reducing the risks associated with gambling, particularly among the youth and vulnerable members of society.
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