Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has said the new rules governing the industry will ensure enhanced protection for consumers.
This comes amid growing gaming industry in Kenya and Africa backed by growing digital technologies.
We will ensure we have robust regulations to protect Kenyans. We are will invest in serious systems where they will be able to help us screen the players. You are screened and the system would be able to see your behaviour and if your behaviour is negative we see what happens,” said Joseph Limo, Chairman GRA.
Speaking during the inaugural iGaming Africa Summit, Limo said the rules will ensure there is a framework for counselling gambling addicts.
Under the new Gambling Control Act, GRA will also deploy a system to monitor all the gaming activities in the country and protect investors by blocking illegal operators and also ensure there is no tax evasion.
GRA says currently there are over 200 gambling operators in Kenya who will be reassessed for licensing under the new regime.
“Because of the technology that we will be bringing into place, we will have the capabilities of identifying problematic gambling habits that can be nipped in the bud long before it becomes a challenge,” said Peter Karimi, GRA Chief Executive Officer.
He added, ”Many solutions have been brought to the fore. For instance we are finding mechanism to exclude the use of immovable assets as part of the gambling wagers so that people do not steak family money or property in pursuit of a high.”
However as the landscape in the sector continues to shift, industry stakeholders attending the summit called on the government to ensure regulations for not stifle growth of the sector.
“Africa’s gaming industry is no longer a frontier market, it is a growth market. The infrastructure is maturing, the talent is here, and the appetite from both operators and players has never been greater. The IGA Summit exists to ensure that growth is structured, inclusive, and lasting,” added Jeremiah Maangi, CEO iGaming AFRIKA.
According to a report by GeoPoll, last year, mobile phones have firmly established themselves as the preferred platform for betting across Africa.
The report indicates that at least 94pc of respondents who participate in gambling reported that they place their bets using a mobile phone.
The two days summit brought together policymakers, regulators, investors and gaming firms from across the globe.
