Kenyan Government Orders Shutdown of Over 50 Betting Firms in Illegal Gambling Crackdown

The Kenyan government has moved decisively to clamp down on unlawful gambling activity, ordering the immediate shutdown of more than 50 betting firms operating without the necessary approvals from the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB).

In an official communication addressed to David Mugonyi, CEO of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the BCLB directed mobile service provider Safaricom to halt all financial transaction services—specifically paybill numbers and STK push functionalities—for a number of betting sites including Cheza Crash, Skai Crash, Vuma Bet, and Aviator 254, among others.

“Unauthorized betting websites have sparked public outrage by operating without approval from the Board,” the BCLB stated. “The Board has taken note of complaints from concerned citizens regarding these platforms, which exploit users by demanding money through betting schemes.”

The BCLB emphasized that its investigations uncovered evidence of fraudulent activity, with these unregulated platforms accepting deposits via paybill and STK services, only to refuse to issue payouts. “Investigations by the Board reveal that these fraudulent sites scam bettors by accepting deposits via pay bill numbers or STK push services, only to withhold payouts,” the Board added.

Beyond financial malpractice, the BCLB also accused the affected platforms of breaching national gaming regulations, prompting immediate regulatory action. “Additionally, the platforms violate the gaming regulations set by the Board, necessitating their immediate shutdown,” it explained.

This action follows the government's earlier decision to impose a nationwide ban on gambling advertisements across all media channels for a period of 30 days. That ban was introduced as a response to rising concern over the growing rate of gambling addiction across the country.

In a further directive underscoring the urgency of the situation, the BCLB reiterated the enforcement order to Safaricom. “The Board has determined that necessary measures must be taken against the listed websites, including their immediate shutdown. Additionally, by copy of this letter, Safaricom PLC Limited is hereby instructed to suspend all associated Pay Bill numbers with immediate effect,” the letter read.

This sweeping enforcement effort marks one of the most significant crackdowns on illegal gambling in Kenya, with authorities aiming to restore integrity to the betting industry while safeguarding citizens from exploitation. 

By fLEXI tEAM