Kenyan bettors face potential daytime gambling ban

Consumers in Nairobi could face a potential gambling activity blackout during daytime hours following a newly proposed amendment to the Nairobi City County Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Bill.

According to local media reports, the amendment seeks to limit betting and gaming activities to between 8pm and 5am in an effort to limit the amount of time city residents are spending on gambling.

The amendment is sponsored by deputy majority whip Waithera Chege, who said the new regulation would help protect young people in the capital and channel their efforts to contributing to society.

She said: “I have observed the operations of betting and gaming establishments in the county for a while now and I believe something must be done to curtail the hours spent in these establishments by our youth if we are to secure our future as a county.”

Chege went on to argue that young Kenyans who had become addicted to gambling would benefit with the change to the bill.

She added: “I shall be proposing that the county and national licensing board limit the operating hours of these establishments from 8pm to 5am so as to help keep productive hours among the public and avoid wastage of time by some youths who are, sadly, now addicted to gambling and spend a lot of time in these establishments.”

Despite these drastic measures, Chege insisted she was not planning to do away with betting in its entirety and instead wanted to “further regulate” the industry.

She concluded: “For clarity, with the passing of this proposal to amend the county betting act, we seek to further regulate this sector and not to totally do away with betting and gaming.”