Global Debates, Local Realities

A debate raging in Australia over a potential ban on gambling advertisements has cast a spotlight on a parallel, high-stakes conflict within Kenya. On Friday, 7 November 2025, prominent Australian independent MP Kate Chaney backed a call from Nine Entertainment, one of the country's largest media conglomerates, for government compensation should a widely discussed ban on betting ads be implemented. This development in Canberra resonates deeply in Nairobi, where regulators, media houses, and the public are locked in a contentious struggle over the future of gambling advertising.

The Australian proposal, which grew out of a 2023 parliamentary committee recommendation to phase out all gambling ads within three years, highlights the immense financial dependence of media outlets on the multi-billion-shilling betting industry. Nine Entertainment's chair, Catherine West, confirmed the company is seeking financial support to offset revenue losses, a move that mirrors the anxieties of many Kenyan media outlets that have become heavily reliant on betting firms for advertising income.

Kenya's Recent Regulatory Crackdown

The situation in Kenya is not theoretical; it is a recent and lived reality. In a decisive move to curb what it termed the "rampant" exposure of minors and vulnerable groups to gambling, Kenya's Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) imposed a sweeping 30-day blanket ban on all gambling advertisements effective 29 April 2025. The moratorium, described by the BCLB as a regulatory "reset button," halted ads across all platforms, including television, radio, newspapers, and social media.

Following the ban, the BCLB, under Chairperson Jane Mwikali Makau, introduced a stringent new framework on 1 June 2025. These regulations mandate that all gambling adverts must now receive prior approval from the BCLB and be classified by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB). Key restrictions include a ban on celebrity and social media influencer endorsements, a prohibition on glamorizing betting, and mandatory inclusion of responsible gambling messages covering at least 20% of the ad space. Furthermore, outdoor advertising is severely limited, and roadshow promotions are banned entirely.

The Economic Tightrope

The core of the issue, both in Kenya and Australia, is the critical financial relationship between media and betting companies. In Kenya, the gambling industry represents a significant source of tax revenue, with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collecting an estimated Ksh24 billion from the sector in the 2023/24 financial year. A 2019 report by GeoPoll and Ipsos warned that a suspension of betting firms could cost the Kenyan media industry an estimated Ksh14 billion in advertising revenue. This financial dependency creates a complex challenge for policymakers attempting to address the undeniable social harms associated with problem gambling.

These harms are well-documented, with studies linking the proliferation of sports betting to rising addiction, debt, and mental health crises, particularly among unemployed youth. The Australian debate acknowledges this tension, with MP Kate Chaney proposing a 0.5% levy on every dollar wagered to create a fund. This fund would not only compensate media companies for lost revenue but also finance public health messages, offering a potential model for balancing economic stability with social responsibility.

Contrasting Approaches and Future Outlook

While Australia deliberates a phased ban with potential compensation, Kenya has opted for a strategy of strict, centralized control over content. The BCLB's multi-agency approach, involving bodies like the Communications Authority and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, signals a long-term commitment to enforcement. However, a more comprehensive legislative bill, introduced in 2023 to establish a new regulator and update tax frameworks, remains pending in Parliament, indicating that the current administrative rules may be a precursor to even more significant reforms.

The Australian government, led by the Albanese administration, is also facing pressure to act on the 2023 committee report, though its response is expected to be a more diluted version of the original total ban proposal. The discussions Down Under, particularly the novel concept of a compensation fund financed by the industry itself, provide a valuable case study for Kenyan stakeholders. As Kenya navigates its own path, the Australian experience underscores a globally recognized challenge: how to sever the unhealthy financial dependency of media on gambling revenue without crippling a vital public institution, all while protecting citizens from harm.