The Betting Control Board has dealt a big blow to celebrities and Television through its latest directive.
In a directive issued on 30th March, The board banned outdoor advertising of gambling, advertising of gambling on all social media platform, advertising gambling between 6 am to 10 pm and endorsement of gambling operations by celebrities.
The Board states through the later it has the duty to protect its customer, members of the public, the young and vulnerable from the consequences of gambling.
“We wish to remind you that gaming is a demerit good and all demerit goods have the potential to harm the consumer with a possibility of leading to addiction as well as some disorder,” the letter reads in part. The board therefore as the regulator of the industry has a duty to present its customers, members of the public, the young and the vulnerable," reads part of the letter by the board's acting Director Liti Wambua.
The board has further directed that all gambling advertisements must contain a warning message about the effects of gambling.
Advertisers will be required to ensure their promotional messages constitute a third of the ads having the same font as other parts of the advertisement, the advertisement must be approved by the board as well.