Unregulated betting companies could soon face the full force of the law after the National Police Service vowed to take decisive action in a sweeping crackdown against unlawful gambling.
While citing a surge in practices considered exploitative among the youth, the NPS, through the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), revealed plans to intensify enforcement and dismantle unauthorised betting platforms.
"In recent months, we have witnessed with deep concern a worrying surge in betting activities, exacerbated by an overwhelming wave of advertising that has saturated our media landscape. This has affected our society’s vulnerable population, especially the youth," NPS noted in a statement.
The statement added, “We will take stern action against operators who violate these regulations, including those involved in unlawful betting syndicates or those operating unauthorised platforms to evade regulatory scrutiny.”
The DCI blamed the rampant betting activities on aggressive advertising and the seamless integration of mobile money and online lending services. This, according to DCI, made the betting process seamless, thus heightening the vice.
As part of the crackdown, the directorate pledged full support to the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) following the board's decision to suspend all gambling advertisements across all media platforms in the country.
An appeal was also made to the Association of Gaming Operators Kenya (AGOK) and other stakeholders to lead by example and enforce ethical gambling practices.
On Tuesday, BCLB chairperson Jane Mwikali confirmed that the ban will last for the next 30 days.
The ban will apply to all licensed gambling operators and promotional activities aired on television, radio, social media platforms, all forms of print media, outdoor advertising, including billboards, branded transport, SMS, email campaigns, push notifications, celebrity endorsements, and influencer marketing.
For the next 30 days, gambling operators and promoters will be required to submit all gambling advertisements to the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) for assessment before airing, in addition to executing measures that will ensure responsible gambling in line with the licensing and operating conditions issued by BCLB.
Meanwhile, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) was also put to task on Tuesday to finalise and operationalise the new guidelines to ensure that gambling advertisements are well-regulated in the media ecosystem.
Finally, the NPS called on a united front in tackling the gambling menace, calling on the public, civil society, and private sector players to support efforts to build a safer gaming environment.
