Government Spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura, has said that the government is in the process of enforcing stricter laws in its effort to regulate gambling in the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, April 23, Mwaura said that the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) is working jointly with the Parliament to reinforce existing laws so as to elevate oversight of gambling in the country, especially on online betting platforms.
"The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), in collaboration with Parliament, is fast-tracking the Gambling Control Bill, 2023, to modernise existing laws," he said.
According to Mwaura, the accelerating rate of gambling addiction in the country has contributed significantly to the loss of property, decreased productivity, and even the loss of life.
The Ministry of Health, according to Mwaura, has set up a helpline, 719, where Kenyans affected by gambling addictions can reach out and seek help.
"What is the government doing to address the rising problem of gambling and betting addiction in Kenya?" he said.
"The government is fully seized of the growing concerns surrounding betting addiction and strongly condemns all unlawful practices within the sector," he added.
In the past few days, Kenyans, especially on social media platforms, have come out vehemently, calling for the control of gambling in the country.
According to Mwaura, the government, through the Ministry of Health, will also issue additional guidelines to control gambling.
Mwaura has further urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and refrain from engaging themselves with the 'fraudulent schemes' that have midwifed dire consequences.
The announcement comes days after the BCLB, in a statement on Sunday, April 20, refuted allegations that Kenyans spent Ksh766 billion in 2024 on gambling.
"Debunking the Ksh766 billion myth recently reported in the media, claiming that Kenyans spent Ksh766 billion on gambling in 2024, a figure roughly equivalent to 31 per cent of national revenue," the statement read.
