Betting firms may be forced to fund addiction rehab under new gambling law

Betting companies could soon be required to contribute part of their profits towards the rehabilitation of gambling addicts if a proposed law currently before Parliament is passed.

The move is part of reforms contained in the Gambling Control Bill of 2023, which is being reviewed by the National Assembly’s Sports and Culture Committee.

The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) says the law is urgently needed to deal with the growing betting craze, especially among the youth.

"It is unreasonable for the government to bear the cost of helping gambling addicts while betting companies continue to enjoy billions in profits," said BCLB Director Peter Mbugi.

"In Kenya, helping those addicted to gambling has been left solely to the government, with betting companies claiming they’ve paid taxes. Why should the government use its resources to solve a problem it didn’t create? Betting firms must be held responsible."

Mbugi said Kenya should follow the example of countries like the United Kingdom, where such measures are already in place to ensure betting firms are directly involved in supporting addiction victims.

As part of the proposed changes, BCLB is also seeking powers to limit individuals to only one bet per day across all platforms.

"For example, if someone places a Sh50 bet on one site, they should be barred from placing any further bets that day. This is meant to curb addiction and prevent excessive gambling," he said.

This approach, referred to as a "cooling system", would enforce a mandatory break before placing another bet. Parliament will determine how long the break should last.

To make this work, the board is calling for a centralised digital system to monitor betting activity in real time across all platforms.

"There’s very little we can do without this monitoring system," said Mbugi.

He added that such a system would require strong legal support from lawmakers because of the level of access it would need into betting firms’ operations.

The board also wants greater enforcement powers, including the authority to fine companies that break the law.

"We have no funds for enforcement. As we speak, we cannot carry out field operations to monitor betting firms. Our job is not just sitting in the office—we need to be on the ground," Mbugi said

He also pointed to the outdated nature of current gambling laws, saying the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act of 1966 no longer applies to modern betting, which is mostly done online.

"Betting is no longer done in brick-and-mortar establishments. It’s now online, on our phones. We need to shift from 1963 to 2023. That’s how critical this new law is," he said.

Attempts to raise the legal betting age from 18 to 24 were earlier rejected, with most views supporting the current age limit. Mbugi also listed weak penalties, fast-changing technology, and lack of funds as major challenges in regulating the sector.

Committee Chairperson Dan Wanyama said the proposed changes were “critical and reasonable” and promised they would be carefully reviewed.

"We are working to finalise the Bill as soon as possible. It could even be assented to by the President next week. So it’s crucial we assess these proposals carefully," he said.