Kenya: MPs propose changes to gambling laws
Parliament considers stricter rules on age limits and betting thresholds.
Key points:
– Proposed legislation seeks to raise the legal gambling age to 21 and increase the minimum bet to Ksh50 (US$0.39)
– The bill also includes provisions to regulate gambling advertising and introduce new licensing thresholds
Members of Parliament in Kenya have proposed amendments to national gambling laws under the Gambling Control Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 70 of 2023), currently under discussion in the National Assembly.
The proposals include raising the legal gambling age from 18 to 21 and setting a minimum betting amount of Ksh50 on all plaftorms.
The bill also outlines penalties for gambling operators who allow individuals below the proposed age to participate in gambling activities. The legislation will address gambling-related advertising, particularly in relation to broadcast content aired outside watershed hours.
According to BCLB Director Peter Mbugi, individuals registering on gambling platforms would be required to submit a selfie holding their national ID as part of a new verification process.
Good to know: The Gambling Control Bill has not yet been enacted with the possibility of public and stakeholder consultations before the bill proceeds further in Parliament
Beatrice Elachi, Dagoretti North MP, stated: “We discourage young people from engaging in it, because getting Ksh50 is a bit hard. It is like these people are so powerful that they can convince the government to pass a Bill that can be shaped into what they want.”
Kimani Ichung’wah, Kikuyu Member of Parliament, added: “We must have laws like this that discourage irresponsible gambling.”
For context, betting and gambling are fully legal in Kenya and have been regulated since 1966 under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act (BLGA). Recently, the BCLB in Kenya has imposed a 30-day ban on gambling advertising, citing concerns about the increasing volume of such content.
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