The Betting Control and Licensing Board requires Sh. 500 million to install a Gambling Central Monitoring System for effective regulation of the gaming industry, a parliamentary committee heard yesterday.

The Board’s Principal Administrative Secretary Arthur Osiya told the Sports and Culture Committee that they were unable to effectively monitor and regulate the industry due to the failure to deploy adequate technology and outdated laws.

“It is important to note that more than 80 percent of gambling activities in Kenya are online. Given the scenario, therefore, deploying adequate technology is the only sure way to effectively monitor and regulate the industry,” he told the Dan Wanyama-led Committee.

Osiya told the committee that the new technology will help in establishing a well-regulated gaming industry that can guarantee public protection, improved revenue generation, responsible gambling, investment growth, and development of the industry in Kenya.

He urged the MPs to fast-track the enactment of the Gambling Control Bill 2023 which provides for a string of legal frameworks to safeguard the industry.

“The current Betting Lotteries and Gaming Act Cap 131 has a lot of loopholes that frustrate the board’s efforts to streamline the industry,” he added.

He told the committee that the board has managed to help the government collect Sh. 88.4 billion from their activities in the last five years. He however noted that inadequate allocation of funds by the Treasury has affected the implementation of their activities, leading to low revenue generation.

“In the last five years, the board was allocated Sh. 531 million, collected Sh 894.6 million in revenue, and Sh. 88.4 billion in taxes,” he explained.