Members of Parliament in Kenya are considering significant amendments to the nation’s gambling laws, including a proposal to raise the legal gambling age from 18 to 21.
These proposed changes are part of the comprehensive Gambling Control Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 70 of 2023), which is currently under discussion in the National Assembly. The bill aims to introduce stricter controls on the rapidly growing industry and promote more responsible gambling practices among the country’s youth.
In addition to raising the gambling age, the proposed legislation seeks to establish a minimum betting amount of Ksh50 (approximately $0.40 USD) on all gambling platforms.
This measure is intended to discourage casual and low-stake betting, which some lawmakers believe is particularly prevalent among young and vulnerable individuals. Beatrice Elachi, the Dagoretti North MP, voiced her support for the higher minimum stake, stating:
We discourage young people from engaging in it, because getting Ksh50 is a bit hard.
The bill also outlines clear penalties for any gambling operators found to be allowing individuals below the proposed legal age of 21 to participate in gambling activities.
The Gambling Control Bill further proposes new regulations for gambling-related advertising, with a particular focus on broadcast content that is aired outside of the designated watershed hours.
To enhance age verification processes, BCLB Director Peter Mbugi has suggested a new requirement for individuals to submit a selfie holding their national ID card when registering on a gambling platform.
While the bill has not yet been enacted and may be subject to further public and stakeholder consultations, it signals a strong political will to tighten regulations. Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wah added,
We must have laws like this that discourage irresponsible gambling.
These proposed changes come at a time when the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has already imposed a 30-day ban on all gambling advertising, citing concerns over its increasing volume and impact.
