Film Board to restrict betting advertisements

The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) is pushing for restrictions on when gambling companies can advertise their products in order to protect gullible youth from exploitation.

KFCB CEO Ezekiel Mutua said the board will seek to have betting adverts restricted to the non-watershed period from 10PM to 5.00AM as a way of protecting youth from joining the betting craze that has gripped the country.

He said it was unfair for the betting companies to advertise their products as if gambling was an investment, saying the marketing approach sent the wrong signal to young people that money can be made without working.

“Come 1st July, we are going to strictly enforce the law. Betting and gambling licences will not be issued. Anybody going there now will have to use the classification guidelines and sign that adverts that are promoting betting and gambling will not be shown during the water schedule,” said Mutua.

The sport betting craze has been taking the country by storm and over 2 million betters spending millions in a game of chance.

The betting industry in Kenya, which was valued at around 1.8 billion shillings in 2014, is projected to grow to  about 7.5 billion shillings  in 2018