Kenya’s Betting Board Seeks Sh500 Million for Central Monitoring System

Need for Technological Advancement

The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has requested Sh500 million to install a Central Monitoring System (CMS) to improve the regulation of Kenya’s gaming industry.

Principal Administrative Secretary Arthur Osiya explained to the Sports and Culture Committee that outdated laws and a lack of technology have hindered effective monitoring and regulation. “More than 80 per cent of gambling activities in Kenya are online, and deployment of adequate technology is the only sure way to effectively regulate the industry,” Osiya stated.

Osiya highlighted that the CMS would enhance public protection, boost revenue collection, promote responsible gambling, and drive investment in the sector. The board is pushing for the Gambling Control Bill 2023 to be enacted quickly, as it offers a comprehensive legal framework to address gaps in the current Betting Lotteries and Gaming Act Cap 131.

Financial and Operational Challenges

Osiya told the committee that while the board helped the government collect Sh88.4 billion in taxes over the past five years, insufficient funding has limited its ability to fulfill its mandate.

“In the last five years, the board was allocated Sh531 million, but collected Sh894.6 million in revenue and Sh88.4 billion in taxes.” He emphasized that with adequate funding, the board could significantly increase tax collection.

Preventing underage gambling remains a challenge, with many youths accessing betting platforms using their parents’ mobile phones. Despite these difficulties, the board has made progress by shutting down 37 unauthorized foreign gambling websites and removing illegal gambling machines nationwide. The BCLB has also conducted responsible gaming awareness campaigns in 12 counties to promote safer betting practices.

Committee Chairman Dan Wanyama expressed his support for the board’s efforts to enhance regulation and ensure responsible gambling across Kenya.