Betting illustration
Families could soon be empowered to seek the suspension of betting accounts belonging to relatives struggling with gambling addiction.
The proposed Gambling Control (Conduct of Gambling Operations) Regulations, 2026, developed under the Gambling Control Act, 2025, introduce far-reaching measures to combat problem gambling while strengthening consumer protection, regulatory oversight and accountability across both physical and online betting platforms.
Among the most notable proposals is a provision allowing family members and other third parties to petition the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) to bar individuals from gambling if they exhibit signs of problem gaming or addiction.
The move comes against the backdrop of growing concern over the social and economic effects of gambling addiction, particularly among young Kenyans.
Betting addiction has emerged as a major challenge in the country, fuelled by the rapid growth of online gambling platforms, widespread smartphone access and aggressive marketing by betting companies.
What was once viewed by many as harmless entertainment has increasingly become a compulsive habit that is affecting livelihoods, family relationships and mental well-being.
Young people have been among the hardest hit, with many turning to betting in the hope of making quick money amid high unemployment and the rising cost of living.
Instead, many have accumulated debts after repeatedly chasing losses, with reports of individuals gambling away salaries, school fees and business capital becoming increasingly common.
In a Gazette Notice No. 6394, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said the proposed reforms are intended to address emerging risks in the gambling sector while enhancing consumer protection and market integrity.
"The reforms seek to address growing risks in the industry while strengthening consumer protection, regulatory oversight and market integrity across both physical and digital gambling platforms," the notice states.
Besides third-party intervention, the regulations introduce voluntary self-exclusion, allowing gamblers who acknowledge they have developed an addiction to enter into formal agreements with licensed betting operators to suspend access to betting services for a specified period.
The regulations also require betting firms to play a more proactive role in identifying harmful gambling behaviour.
Under the proposals, operators will be empowere – and required – too suspend betting accounts where a punter's gambling patterns or financial behaviour indicate severe financial distress or where continued gambling could threaten public security.
To strengthen oversight, the Gambling Regulatory Authority plans to establish a central monitoring system capable of tracking player behaviour across licensed platforms.
The system will analyse gambling patterns to identify
addiction triggers, enabling the regulator to recommend account suspensions and
refer affected individuals for counselling where necessary.
The regulations also introduce stringent data protection obligations for gambling operators.
If approved, applicants seeking gambling licences will be required to submit data protection certificates, privacy policies, privacy statements and terms and conditions that comply with Kenya's data protection laws before licences can be issued.
Licenced operators will also be required to maintain data protection reports for regulatory inspection and ensure that the personal and financial information of players is encrypted both while stored and during transmission.
In addition, the proposals seek to safeguard the privacy of winners by prohibiting the disclosure of their identities without their written consent, a court order or any other legal requirement.
The draft regulations form part of a broader framework governing licensing, gambling operations, advertising, cross-border participation and dispute resolution in the sector.
If implemented, the measures are expected to mark one of Kenya's most comprehensive attempts to curb gambling addiction while introducing stronger safeguards for consumers in an industry that has experienced rapid growth over the past decade.
