Kenyan Content Creators Slam BCLB For Betting Suspension, Issue Ultimatum
Content creators have given the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) 48 hours to reconsider its decision to prohibit celebrities and influencers from promoting gambling.
While addressing the press on Wednesday evening, June 4, the content creators urged BCLB to engage in consultations to find a peaceful resolution to the situation.
“We respectfully urge BCLB to suspend the ban and sit with us within 48 hours for discussions on this matter,” the content creators said.
“We are more than happy to engage and negotiate as we hope for a suitable model that ensures responsible advertising via age-restriction content regulations.”
They observed that, despite the urgent need to address the country’s betting problem, imposing a blanket ban would not achieve the necessary outcomes.
Kenyan content creators and Influencers urge the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) to lift marketing ban on betting. #NRGRadioKenya pic.twitter.com/IsVCK5ivDt
— NRG Radio Kenya (@NRGRadioKenya) June 5, 2025
They pushed for their growing presence and impact in the marketing and advertising industries, emphasizing their importance to the creative economy ecosystem.
“That move not only limits the creative space, but it also leaves many people jobless, and it further questions the work of digital media and fights against the legitimacy of content creation as a profession,” one of their representatives noted.
“Let us be honest, social media has conquered advertising, and influencers are now at the frontline of modern digital marketing,” he added.
“Our interaction (in the digital space) simply needs to be responsibly managed and not completely abolished.”
On Friday, May 30, the BCLB, which reports to the President’s Office, prohibited the use of celebrities, influencers, and content creators to support or promote gaming.
The new guideline struck a significant blow to celebrities and influencers, many of whom rely on the lucrative sector for a living.
This means they wouldn’t be able to profit from promoting gambling activities.
It follows a notice issued on May 29, in which the BCLB proposed new, strict laws intended to promote responsible gaming and protect vulnerable Kenyans, particularly minors, from such activities.
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According to the notification, all gambling commercials must first be approved by BCLB and then classified by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) before they may be distributed or exhibited.
The new legislation also requires all media outlets to guarantee that all gambling commercials were approved by the BCLB and KFCB before being distributed across their platforms.
The BCLB also prohibits gambling advertisements near schools, religious organizations, and sites frequented by minors, such as playgrounds and retail malls.
In addition, all gaming advertisements must include the BCLB license number, a message about responsible gambling, and the operator’s name and address.
Kenyan Content Creators Slam BCLB For Betting Suspension, Issue Ultimatum
