Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has announced that Kenya is moving to implement stricter gambling regulations in a renewed effort to curb the rising wave of betting addiction, especially among the youth.
Speaking on Wednesday, April 23, Mwaura revealed that the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) is working closely with Parliament to fast-track the Gambling Control Bill, 2023, aimed at modernizing existing laws and enhancing oversight of the rapidly evolving gambling sector — particularly online platforms.
“The BCLB, in collaboration with Parliament, is fast-tracking the Gambling Control Bill, 2023, to modernise existing laws,” Mwaura said.
He added that gambling addiction had become a serious concern for the government, citing its links to financial distress, property loss, mental health challenges, and even cases of suicide.
Government Measures and Public Health Response
As part of the response, Mwaura noted that the Ministry of Health has already activated helpline 719, a toll-free number for individuals battling gambling addiction to seek professional help and counseling.
“The government is fully seized of the growing concerns surrounding betting addiction and strongly condemns all unlawful practices within the sector,” Mwaura stated.
He further assured Kenyans that the government would continue issuing guidelines to rein in irresponsible gambling behavior and crack down on fraudulent operators in the industry.
Public Outcry and Contested Statistics
Mwaura’s remarks come against the backdrop of growing public pressure, particularly on social media, with Kenyans calling for urgent regulation to prevent the normalization of gambling as a lifestyle.
Just days earlier, the BCLB issued a rebuttal to claims that Kenyans had spent Ksh766 billion on gambling in 2024. The board dismissed the figure as “grossly exaggerated”, arguing that it misrepresented the actual size of the regulated market.
“Debunking the Ksh766 billion myth… the sensational figure inaccurately inflates the size of the regulated market, likely by including offshore (unlicensed) platforms,” the board said in its April 20 statement.
The actual tax revenue collected from the betting sector in the 2024/25 fiscal year, according to BCLB, was Ksh22.3 million — a figure that points to a much smaller regulated market than previously reported.