Kenyan MP Advocates for Regulation of Aviator Betting Game Amidst Addiction and Advertising Worries

Kenyan Member of Parliament Martha Wangari Wanjira brought the online betting game Aviator into sharp focus within Parliament, expressing serious concerns about its rapidly increasing popularity and potential for addiction.

The legislator voiced worries that the game contributes to financial difficulties for many Kenyans and employs aggressive advertising tactics that target vulnerable individuals.

During a parliamentary session held on April 16th, Ms. Wangari, who represents the Gilgil constituency, urged the government to conduct a thorough investigation into Aviator and implement necessary regulations, labeling it as “an addictive game of chance.”

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She requested that the Finance Committee provide a statement detailing the measures the government is undertaking to control such digital betting products.

Ms. Wangari sought clarity on the game’s licensing status and the oversight provided by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB).

The Member of Parliament highlighted several troubling incidents involving students and parents who have reportedly lost significant amounts of money playing Aviator.

Unlike traditional sports betting, this game requires no specialized knowledge or expertise. Players simply place bets on the duration that a pair of virtual airplanes will remain airborne before crashing. This straightforward nature and the game’s instant results have fueled concerns about its addictive potential.

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Ms. Wangari emphasized the widespread negative impact, stating that “the craze has terrorized both women and men and the youth in equal measure by gobbling up livelihoods,” and cited “numerous cases of students gambling on their school fees and parents gambling on their savings.”

Furthermore, Ms. Wangari criticized the prominent placement of betting advertisements during peak viewing and listening hours. She pointed out that some betting companies have gone so far as to integrate promotional content directly into news segments on widely watched television channels.

According to her observations, “there has been a drive by registered gaming farms to place advertisements on leading TV and radio stations during prime time with their abnormal profits amassed. There is evidence of a firm whose betting and gaming activities are part of prime-time news in one of the most watched TV stations in the country.”

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In her pursuit of greater transparency and accountability, the legislator has requested information from the Committee on Finance including:

The legal standing of Aviator and similar online betting games

The total revenue generated from betting and gambling taxes

The annual national expenditure on gambling activities

The specific regulatory actions the BCLB has taken to manage betting-related content in the media.

Public disclosure of a comprehensive list containing the license numbers of all authorized gaming firms and media houses involved in promoting aviator games.

The Committee on Finance was expected to respond to these critical questions by April 17th. The outcome of this inquiry holds the potential to significantly influence future regulatory measures concerning digital betting games in Kenya and the way they are advertised across the nation’s media platforms.

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