Betting firms on Tuesday got a reprieve after the High Court quashes a government directive that banned outdoor advertising.
Justice John Mativo declared the directive made by the Betting Control and Licensing Board dated April 30 that banned outdoor advertising of gambling null and void.
The judge ruled the directive was tainted with illegality, unreasonableness and procedural impropriety.
The board outlawed advertising of gambling on all social media platforms as well as ads on gambling between 6 am and 10 pm.
In a notice signed by the Acting Director Liti Wambua, the board further banned any endorsement of gambling operations by celebrities.
All advertisements were to be approved by the board and must contain a warning to the public of its consequences.
The Association of Practitioners in Advertising condemned the regulations on betting advertisements, terming them dictatorial and bad for business.
The umbrella body of advertising agencies in Kenya said BCLB did not consult key stakeholders, which is detrimental to good governance and outside the spirit of inclusivity.
The advertisers warned that proposed restrictions will not only deny revenue to media houses but also hurt the country’s revenue collection.
The association added that the restrictions will drive the advertising for these products offshore, and deprive the exchequer of tax cash from local advertising and contribute to capital flight.
