Kenya bans gambling advertising on social media

The Betting Control and Licensing Board in Kenya banned gambling ads on all social media platforms and other forms of advertising.

Kenya.- The industry’s advertising continues to be one of the hottest topics worldwide. In Kenya, gambling ads have just hit a major hurdle, as new regulations forbade their display on any social media platforms.

The Betting Control and Licensing Board confirmed the ban in a notice signed by the Acting Director Liti Wambua. They also forbade outdoor advertising and all types between 6 am and 10 pm.

Like many other regulators, Kenya’s gambling ad ban also covers celebrities’ endorsement of gambling operations. Furthermore, any form of advertising must first go through the board. It will give its approval before clearing any of them to launch.

The regulator included a requirement to include a message warning of potential harms coming from gambling. “The warning message must constitute a third of the actual advertisement and be of the same font,” they stated.

The ban will be enforced as of May 30.

Online gambling in Kenya

The gambling ad ban may hurt iGaming’s potential in the country.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) had advanced in March that it will focus on gamblers and mobile money users and introduce new taxes in July after failing to reach their half-year (financial, from July ‘18 to June ‘19) target by €463.2 million. According to KRA commissioner-general John Njiraini Tuesday a 10% tax on mobile phone-based payments may be included in the next national budget.

Mr Njiraini added that the authorities have projected they’ll miss the annual tax collection target set by the Treasury by €963 million by next June 30.