Parliament members in Kenya want to improve consumer protection. They plan to raise the legal gambling age. They also aim to set minimum bet limits on sportsbooks.
Kenya lawmakers want a tougher stance on gambling. They are making a fresh attempt to raise the legal betting age from 18 to 21.
Parliament members also considered introducing a minimum bet requirement of Ksh50 or $0.39 on all sportsbook platforms. They discussed this during the National Assembly session at the end of July. Both moves would restraint underage and excessive gambling in the country.
The proposed changes are part of the Gambling Control Bill, or National Assembly Bill No. 70 of 2023. This bill recently set the legal gambling age at 18.
If the amendment passes, it will restrict anyone under 21 from placing a bet, specifically in parimutuel markets. Beatrice Elachi, Dagoretti North MP, voiced strong support for the reforms, saying the changes are needed to protect young people.
While also criticizing the influence of powerful gambling interests, she said that they discourage young people from engaging in betting, because getting Ksh50 is a bit difficult.
She also said these people are so powerful that they can convince the government to pass a bill shaped to their liking. What they are doing to their young people is wrong.
Kimani Ichung’wah, Kikuyu MP backed the new bill, which includes stricter oversight of betting ads on radio and TV.
He said that they must have laws like this that discourage irresponsible gambling. It cannot be normal for so many radio and TV stations to encourage the public to bet. They start doing this as early as 5 a.m.
However, the proposal hasn’t gone over well with everyone. Many Kenyans argued that if 18-year-olds are old enough to vote or serve in the military, they should be trusted to gamble responsibly.
