Kenya’s Gambling Reform: New Age Restrictions
Gambling Regulatory Authority Within the Country
The new law presents the Gambling Regulatory Authority formation. It will replace the old Betting Control and Licensing Board. From now on, the Gambling Regulatory Authority’s responsibility will be to oversee the gambling industry.
The Importance of Licensing and Monitoring Systems
The bill foresees the development of real-time tracking of all gambling activities. According to new regulations, local operators will have to comply with these new licensing requirements. The applicants must use effective information security systems. They should prevent underage gambling and offer responsible gambling tools to help users gamble wisely.
Minimum Betting Requirements and Penalties
Another provision in the law introduced a minimum wager of Sh20 ($0.15). Any gambling site that allows bets to be lower than this amount shall receive a fine of at least Sh5 million ($38,700) or risk going to prison.
Verification and Registration
Under the new Regulatory Authority, every player who takes part in gambling activities online must register and hold an account at a licensed website. It is the duty of the operator to verify the age of every player, ensuring that players are of the legal age to gamble. It is also the sole duty of the operator to have measures in place to ensure minors will not be allowed to use gambling services.
Compensation, Profits, and Equity Investments
The new law states that all gambling operators must credit players’ accounts within two days and deliver non-monetary rewards within seven days. The Authority has also raised the minimum capital for online gambling operators from Sh250,000 ($1,935) to Sh100 million ($773,994). This move is to help ensure that only financially capable companies engage in the gambling industry.
Protective Measures
All operators wishing to gain an online gambling license must now prove they can establish a secure online payment system, implement responsible gambling practices, and control all personal information securely. The Gambling Regulatory Authority will utilize a centralized electronic monitoring system, which will be used for both online and casino gaming. This will allow the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) to monitor transactions in real time and detect any unauthorised gambling activities.
The Legal Age and Restrictions on Advertising
This new law increases the minimum legal age for gambling from 18 years old to 21 years old. A new reform aims to protect the youth from the potentially harmful effects of gambling. The law bans all influencers and celebrities from endorsing gambling through advertisements.
Final Thoughts
President Ruto’s signing of the Gambling Control Bill 2023 is a positive step towards an effective gambling industry in Kenya. All the new chances impose better gambling addiction management and a safer environment for local casino fans.