Crackdown as Nairobi county’s new Bill in Kenya aims to raise the stakes for gambling offenders
Proposed law seeks million-shilling fines and prison time for illegal gambling near schools, churches and homes while demanding more responsibility from gaming operators.
Nairobi County, Kenya – Gambling in Nairobi County in Kenya could soon become a high-risk game of its own, as a tough new bill aims to rein in an industry that lawmakers say is spiralling out of control.
Under the Nairobi City County Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act, 2023, proposed by Ngara Ward MCA Chege Mwaura, business owners operating unlicensed gaming establishments or those located near schools, religious institutions or residential estates could face fines up to Sh1 million ($7,700) or five years behind bars.
This sweeping legislation seeks to establish a new Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Control Board tasked with licensing and regulating all betting activities in the capital.
“Close to 80 per cent of the betting in Kenya is happening in Nairobi that is why we are pushing for more public participation this time round, to make the betting companies be compelled to offer psychosocial support to the societies they operate in,” Mwaura was quoting as saying on MSN.
The bill is an attempt to do what a 2021 legal amendment couldn’t (aiming to limit gambling to five-star hotels and impose meaningful, enforceable regulation). It’s also a bold pushback against what Mwaura calls a national focus on gambling revenue at the expense of social impact.
“What we are pushing is the restriction of access to betting in Nairobi,” he said.
What happens if it’s passed
If passed, the bill will hit both players and operators hard. Playing in an unlicensed venue could earn punters a Sh100,000 ($770) fine or six months in jail. Meanwhile, operators would need to fork out Sh10,000 ($77) for a licence application, Sh600,000 ($4,615) in grant fees and Sh300,000 ($2,310) annually just to stay in the game.
Gaming machines will be strictly prohibited near learning institutions, religious centres and residential areas. Transferring a licence will cost Sh100,000, with board approval required.
Casino operators aren’t off the hook either. To qualify for licences, costing up to Sh1.5 million ($11,540) in grant fees, they’ll need to demonstrate community value by boosting local employment, promoting tourism and creating opportunities for women, youth and people with disabilities.
Entertainment taxes and additional levies are also on the cards, signalling the country’s intent to turn casual gaming into a more accountable and costly enterprise.
For Mwaura and the bill’s supporters, the message is clear: gaming in Nairobi must evolve from a societal risk into a responsible, regulated industry or pay the price.
