By: Benjamin Mutuku, Mental Wellness Advocate & Clinical Psychologist
On April 29, 2025, the Kenyan government did something rare and revolutionary: it hit pause on an entire industry’s megaphone.
Through the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), a 30-day suspension was placed on all gambling advertisements across TV, radio, digital, and print platforms. And for those of us working in mental health, it felt like fresh air in a room suffocating under the weight of despair, debt, and death.
But here’s the thing:
📣 This is not just about gambling. 💔 It’s about grief disguised as dopamine. 🧨 Hope packaged in jackpots. 🩸 Addiction marketed as entertainment.
And right now, it’s Kenya’s silent epidemic.
🚨 Gambling Addiction: The Hidden Mental Health Crisis We Can’t Ignore
Kenya currently has the highest youth gambling rate in Sub-Saharan Africa (76%, Geopoll). Behind this statistic are real people spiraling under:
- 💸 Debt-induced depression
- 🙈 Shame-fueled isolation
- 💀 Suicidal ideation after financial collapse
- 🔄 Dopamine dysregulation mirroring drug addiction
Advertising is the gateway drug. It seeds the fantasy, triggers the craving, and normalizes the spiral. Cut the ads, and you reduce exposure—but only for a moment.
Unless we treat the addiction beneath the surface, the problem will shape-shift and re-emerge—stronger, smarter, and deadlier.
⚖️ Legality Check: Is the Ban on Betting Ads Even Legal?
Absolutely—within bounds.
Here’s the fine print:
- Betting is legal in Kenya, regulated under the Betting, Lotteries, and Gaming Act (Cap 131).
- The BCLB has statutory powers to regulate all forms of promotion and advertisement related to gambling.
- The Constitution allows limitations on commercial speech (like ads) if it endangers public welfare, especially youth.
- This is not a ban on gambling—it’s a temporary restriction on how it’s sold to the public.
In essence: you can bet, but you can’t bait. And legally, when public health is at stake, that’s fair game.
🧠 What Kenya Needs Next: A Mental Health-Informed Roadmap
This 30-day break must be the beginning of real reform, not a PR pitstop. Here’s what comes next:
1. Embed Gambling Addiction in National Mental Health Policy
Like drug use, it needs:
- Screening at health facilities
- NHIF coverage for therapy
- School-based prevention programs
🩺 The UK’s NHS now runs dedicated gambling addiction clinics. Why not us?
2. Allocate Betting Tax Toward Treatment and Prevention
Let the billions in betting revenue fund:
- 📞 Free addiction hotlines
- 🏥 County-level rehab services
- 🧠 Public awareness initiatives
💬 Johann Hari reminds us in “Lost Connections”: “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is connection.”
3. Enforce a National Responsible Gambling Framework
Regulation must include:
- ✅ Verified age restrictions
- 🕓 Loss/time-out limits
- ⚠️ Mental health warning labels
- 🌍 Blocking offshore betting apps
4. Run a National Education Campaign
Let’s replace harmful marketing with:
- 🎙️ “Betting Is Not a Career” stories
- 🧑🏽🎤 Youth-targeted social media content
- 🚐 Matatu awareness campaigns
5. Create Community-Based Healing Spaces
Activate:
- Church groups
- Men’s barazas
- Youth clubs
Let healing be cultural, not just clinical.
💡 Final Thoughts: Let This Be Kenya’s Wake-Up Call
To our policymakers: 🫶🏽 This move was courageous. But the long game will require courageous consistency.
To the betting industry: 🎰 If you must operate, do it with responsibility—not exploitation.
To the everyday Kenyan: 🤝 Addiction isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a signal for help. Let’s design systems that treat people like humans, not consumers.
🧭 Let the next 30 days be a detox.
But let the next 30 years be a rebuild.
