Gov't bans celebrities from appearing in betting adverts

The Kenya Betting and Licensing Board on Wednesday banned celebrities from endorsing and being part of adverts of betting firms.

Through a statement, the board further outlawed outdoor advertising of gambling, advertising of gambling on all social media platforms and gambling adverts on TV between 6am and 10pm.

The announcement made by the acting director Liti Wambua, added that any form of advertisement of gambling must be approved by the board.

"It has been further been decided that any form of advertisement of gambling must be approved by the board and such an advertisement must contain a warning message about the consequences of gambling including its addictiveness, and that the warning message must constitute a third of the actual advertisement and be of the same font," remarked Wambua.

The acting director noted that all betting firms had to comply with the directive before May 30 this year.

Matiang'i orders betting firm licenses not to be renewed

In January 2019, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i had ordered all betting companies to pay their tax arrears or lose their licenses.

During a meeting with the betting board, he had directed that betting agencies that had not aligned with the rule should not have their licenses renewed on July 1.

"Effective 1st July all licenses will stand cancelled except for those who would have complied and paid their taxes," stated Matiang'i.

He further insisted that the betting sector will get an overhaul from government since the industry was affecting young people.