The Betting Control and Licencing Board (BCLB) has come under heavy criticism from the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) for failing to protect consumers from advertising by betting companies, labelling the industry practices as “predatory”.

The consumer protection non-profit COFEK penned an open letter that takes aim at the lack of rules and regulations preventing operators from promoting their services on particular internet browsers targeting consumers from Kenya.

Advertising on web browsers

These failings were described as alarming, with these seemingly unregulated channels hosting significant advertising activities which COFEK believe are instrumental in swaying tangible behavioural change among the Kenyan market.

COFEK has also claimed that its findings. garnered from a process involving research and consultations with line experts, have confirmed to the organisation “that browser providers, such as Opera, have introduced a ‘speed dial’ feature, specifically curated for the Kenyan market”.

These features provide links to betting operations which COFEK are certain to ensure adverts are seen, failing to consider the user’s age. 

COFEK’s demands

COFEK has demanded that gambling operators stop promoting their services on Opera Mini in particular without receiving regulatory approval beforehand. 

Opera specifically has been a topic of focus as its flagship Opera Mini offers users to ability to provide less data that most of tis counterparts, making it an increasingly popular choice among the Kenyan market. 

Protection of children

However, this means in many aspects including but not limited to gambling, that this service is a significant risk to millions of minors with access to the internet in various forms.

Advertising on the browser therefore, according to COFEK is in breach of the Communication Authotity of Kenya’s child online protection campaign. 

This is devised to balance children’s rights to information access while also protecting them from potential harm arising from internet products.

Kenya continue stringent stance on gambling

All these regulatory movements are part of Kenya’s efforts to update its gambling laws and increase revenue collection at the expense of the sector, setting

Kenya has also enacted the recent introduction of a 15 percent excise duty fee for advertising across all mediums, including television, print media, billboards and radio, applicable to both gambling and alcoholic beverages.

This went ahead despite calls from the Media Owners Association (MOA) of Kenya, with Njuguna Ndung’u, the National treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet’s Secretary describing gambling as harmful in particular reference to children and families.

SiGMA Balkans/CIS

As a globally recognised nexus for networking, SiGMA Group sets its sights next to the Balkans this September, when the SIGMA Balkans/CIS Summit heads to Limassol Cyprus.

A host of networking opportunities and industry-leading knowledge will be emanating from the much-anticipated event which will pack panel discussions, keynote speeches, start-up pitches and much more into 3 days in the diverse Cypriot city.

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