Kenya moves to make betting firms fund gambling addiction treatment

Betting firms in Kenya could soon be compelled to contribute a portion of their profits towards a fund dedicated to rehabilitating gambling addicts, if a proposed government-backed law gains approval in Parliament.

According to Eastleigh Voice, the provision is part of the Gambling Control Bill of 2023, currently under review by the National Assembly’s Sports and Culture Committee. The Bill aims to introduce sweeping reforms in the betting industry to curb rising addiction rates, particularly among young people.

The government says it can no longer shoulder the burden of treating gambling addiction alone while operators continue to profit. "It is unreasonable for the government to bear the cost of helping gambling addicts while betting companies continue to enjoy billions in profits," said Peter Mbugi, Director of the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), during a presentation to the committee.

Mbugi argued that betting firms must take direct responsibility for the social harm linked to their operations. "In Kenya, helping those addicted to gambling has been left solely to the government, with betting companies claiming they’ve paid taxes. Why should the government use its resources to solve a problem it didn’t create?" he said.

Citing international models, such as those in the United Kingdom, Mbugi noted that similar frameworks could be adopted locally to ensure betting operators play an active role in funding addiction treatment programs.

In addition to financial contributions, the BCLB is pushing for stricter digital oversight. It proposes equipping the Board with a centralised monitoring system to track real-time betting activity across all licensed platforms. The system would enable the enforcement of a “cooling system,” limiting individuals to a single bet per day, regardless of the betting site used.

“For example, if someone places a Sh50 bet on one site, they should be barred from placing any further bets that day. This is meant to curb addiction and prevent excessive gambling,” Mbugi explained.

The Board stressed that implementing such controls would require strong legal backing from Parliament, given the level of access the system would need into betting firms’ operations.

If passed, the Gambling Control Bill could mark a major shift in how Kenya regulates its booming betting industry, potentially placing social responsibility at the core of operators’ obligations.