Omtatah Appeals To Govt Over Regulating Betting In Kenya

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has urged the Ministry of Interior to formulate legislation to oversee and regulate the operations of betting firms.

Omtatah issued a statement on Friday, May 2, after he received a call from a radio station in Tanzania asking about the impact of Kenya’s decision to suspend gambling advertisements and shut down over 50 betting firms. 

According to the vocal legislator, the government collects less than two percent of what the betting companies make, thus pointing out a lack of sufficient regulation in the betting industry.

"Meanwhile, the social damage is enormous; broken families, rising poverty, and a growing mental health crisis among our youth," he indicated.

"I pointed out that in the past, the Kenya Charity Sweepstake was a government-regulated public gaming institution that organised raffles and prize competitions. Its purpose was to raise funds for national development and charitable causes."

According to Omtatah, funds from the sweepstake went directly into supporting national development, reminiscing that this was a structured system where proceeds from gaming helped build the nation, not harm it.

"Today, unregulated private betting firms exploit the poor, fuel addiction, and export their profits while leaving behind despair. I fully support the government’s action. However, we must go further," he continued.

"The National government, through the Ministry of Interior and the Betting Control and Licensing Board, should take the lead in drafting a Bill to regulate this sector and return it to public oversight. We must pass legislation that puts the well-being of Kenyans above corporate profit."

He concluded by saying, "Our youth are not a market to exploit. They are the builders of our future, must be protected, and it has been known that the future is here."

The BCLB ordered an immediate suspension of gambling advertisements and testimonials across all media platforms in the country for a period of 30 days.

Moreover, unregulated betting platforms, both physical and online, could face the full force of the law after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) vowed to take action amidst a sweeping crackdown against unlawful gambling in the country.

The Board went ahead to list more than 50 betting websites operating unlawfully within Kenya’s internet domain, stating that these platforms deceive users by accepting deposits but failing to honour payouts.

In recent years, gambling addiction—particularly among young people—has emerged as a growing concern.

A report by GeoPoll ranked Kenya among the top African nations in terms of betting activity. While the majority of Kenyan bettors reportedly spend less than Ksh1,200 per month, the survey also revealed that some individuals wager over Ksh60,000 monthly.

GeoPoll report on the frequency of betting in African Countries. /GEOPOLL