BCLB BANS CELEBRITIES, INFLUENCERS & CONTENT CREATORS FROM PROMOTING GAMBLING

The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), has prohibited celebrities, influencers, and content creators from endorsing or promoting gambling.

This decision comes after the government lifted a 30-day suspension on gambling advertisements across all media platforms, allowing their return once regulatory adjustments were made. The move is a blow to celebrities and content creators who relied on the gambling industry as a source of income, as they will no longer be permitted to profit from such endorsements.

Additionally, BCLB has banned gambling advertisements near schools, places of worship, and areas commonly frequented by children, such as playgrounds and shopping malls.

In a notice issued on May 29, BCLB outlined stricter regulations designed to encourage responsible gambling and protect at-risk groups, including minors.

Under the new rules, all gambling advertisements must first be reviewed and approved by BCLB before being sent to the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) for classification. Only after clearance can they be aired or published.

Media houses are now required to confirm that gambling ads have received approval from both BCLB and KFCB before broadcasting or distributing them.

“In carrying out gambling advertisements, all media outlets shall adhere to the Code of Conduct for Media Practices, 2025,” the Board stated.

Approved advertisements must include the BCLB license number, a responsible gambling message, and the operator’s name and address. They must also feature a visible customer care number and the statement “authorised and regulated by the Betting Control and Licensing Board.“