Kenya proposes rise in legal age for gambling
Legislators also propose rising the minimum stake to discourage casual gambling.
Kenya.- Members of the Kenyan parliament have proposed amendments to the country’s gambling laws that would up both the minimum age and minimum stake for gambling. Under discussion in the National Assembly, the updated Gambling Control Bill would raise the legal betting age to 21 – the same as for alcohol sales. It would increase the minimum stake to Ksh50, ($0.40).
The proposals are part of efforts to reduce underage and casual low-stakes gambling in Kenya. In June, the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) introduced new regulations for gambling ads following a 30-day ban, requiring operators to now have ads approved by the BCLB and classified by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB).
The new bill would scrap the BCLB and replace it with a new body called the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya, which would handle all licensing. County governments would be responsible for issuing trade permits, reducing regulatory overlap. The bill also seeks to bring prize competitions and public lotteries under a unified legal framework.
As reported by Focus Gaming News Africa, MPs have stressed that the move is not anti-gambling; but seeks to promote greater accountability and social responsibility. MP Kwenya Thuku, who is leading parliamentary negotiations on the bill, described it as a “modernised approach that aims to balance both the economic benefits of the industry while protecting consumers in our society.”
