The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has decried increased illegal gambling both online and land-based.
In a presentation to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, the board said illegal gambling has been on the rise on offshore websites and slot machines.
BCLB director Peter Mbugi told the committee that 80 per cent of gambling activity in Kenya, like in many other countries is online and less brick and mortar.
“Given the scenario, deployment of adequate technology is the only sure way to adequately monitor and effectively regulate the industry,” he said.
Mbugi told the committee the agency is unable to tame illegal gambling because of the weak and old laws.
“The enabling law was enacted in 1966. It is not deterrent enough,” he said.
Mbugi further said inadequate budgetary allocation is hindering the board from effectively executing its mandate.
He noted that the total budgetary allocation to the board in the 2023-24 Financial Year was Sh109.6 million.
He regretted that the board gets little allocation when compared to the taxes the government gets from gambling.
He noted that while the board was allocated Sh109.6 million in the last financial year, the government collected Sh24.4 billion in taxes from gambling.
Mbugi further pointed out that the board was allocated Sh98 million in the 2022-23 Financial year yet the government collected Sh24 billion in taxes from gambling during the period.
He said the revenue generated board in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 fiscal periods were Sh173 million and Sh256 million respectively.
Mbugi also cited inadequate staffing, training, tooling and kitting as we well as exposure as other hindrances to effective service delivery.
He told the committee that gambling has turned from a leisure activity to a source of livelihood due to unemployment and poverty.
The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) was established by Section 3(1) of the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act Cap. 131 – Laws of Kenya of 1966.
It is a regulatory agency whose mandate is drawn from the Act that provides for the control and licencing of betting and gaming premises and the activities carried therein; for the authorisation of public lotteries and prize competition as well as eradication of illegal gambling.