In a bold move to tighten control over Kenya’s rapidly expanding betting industry, the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has unveiled sweeping regulatory proposals aimed at streamlining the sector, protecting vulnerable groups, and cracking down on unregulated operators.
Among the headline proposals is a new requirement that gamblers must submit a selfie holding their National ID as part of the registration process—a digital age verification step aimed at eliminating underage and anonymous betting.
BCLB SETS NEW BARRIERS FOR ENTRY INTO GAMBLING INDUSTRY
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Finance and Planning on Tuesday, BCLB Director Peter Mbugi outlined the board’s vision for a more disciplined, accountable, and transparent gambling environment.
Mbugi emphasized that the proposed laws seek to deter casual and speculative investments in the betting industry by raising the bar for financial and operational compliance.
“For small-scale betting shops, we propose a minimum capital threshold of Ksh50 million, while public gaming operators like casinos will need Ksh5 billion to be licensed,” Mbugi told the committee.
Additionally, online betting platforms and national lottery operators will be required to deposit Ksh200 million as a prerequisite for licensing, once the bill is passed into law.
TOUGHER RULES AIMED AT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC
According to the BCLB, these measures are not only intended to limit the mushrooming of unqualified operators but are also designed to combat the growing concern of underage gambling, a trend increasingly prevalent due to digital access and media influence.
Mbugi also revealed that, working alongside the Communications Authority of Kenya, the board has already shut down over 106 illegal betting websites operating without licenses.
“We want to ensure that only serious, compliant, and well-capitalized players are allowed into the industry,” he added.
GAMBLING ADS TO FACE STRICT CLASSIFICATION
In a related move, BCLB is also pushing for stricter controls on gambling advertisements, citing concerns over how frequent media exposure is influencing young audiences.
“All gambling adverts must now go through the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) for vetting,” said Mbugi. “We believe gambling is adult content and should be aired only outside the watershed period.”
This regulation is intended to minimize exposure among children and adolescents, especially during prime-time TV and radio hours.
