The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has flagged
at least 58 betting websites it says are operating illegally within Kenya’s
internet domain.
The Board has also ordered the immediate shutdown of their
operations.
In a letter to the Communication Authority of Kenya, BCLB
expressed concern over the platforms, saying investigations into the platforms
followed the various complaints raised by Kenyans.
BCLB said the sites lure gamblers by accepting deposits but
then refuse to pay out winnings, leaving users vulnerable to financial
exploitation.
“Unauthorised betting websites have sparked public outrage
by operating without approval from the Board. The Board has taken note of
complaints from concerned citizens regarding these platforms, which exploit
users by demanding money through betting schemes,” the letter reads in part.
“Investigations by the Board reveal that these fraudulent
sites scam bettors by accepting deposits via pay bill numbers or STK push
services, only to withhold pay outs. Additionally, the platforms violate the
gaming regulations set by the Board, necessitating their immediate shutdown,”
it adds.
The board has further directed mobile service operators to
immediately suspend all Pay Bill accounts associated with these betting firms.
“Additionally, by copy of this letter, mobile operators are
hereby instructed to suspend all associated Pay Bill numbers with immediate
effect.”
This comes amid growing concerns over the negative effects
of betting on vulnerable populations, particularly the youth in the country.
On Tuesday, the Betting Control and Licensing Board
suspended gambling advertisements across all media platforms for 30 days,
effective immediately.
BCLB Chair Jane Mwikali Makau said some gambling promoters
are increasingly mischaracterising gambling as a legitimate investment
opportunity and a shortcut to wealth creation.
This, she said, has occasioned adverse socioeconomic
consequences, with devastating effects on individuals, families, and the
broader community.
“Of particular concern is the rampant airing of gambling
advertisements during the watershed period (5:00 am to 10:00 pm), thereby
exposing vulnerable members of the population, particularly minors, who are
gradually drawn into gambling-related addiction,” she said.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has also
condemned the surge in such ads across various media platforms, warning that
they were encouraging vulnerable individuals to engage in reckless gambling
behavior.
The DCI has pledged to enforce the government's suspension
of gambling advertisements and work closely with BCLB to improve regulatory
oversight of the sector.
