Members of Parliament are going after the popular online betting game Aviator, raising concerns over its social and economic effects on Kenyans.
Gilgil Member of Parliament, Martha Wangari Wanjira, has voiced concern over the online betting game’s impact on livelihoods across the country.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday, April 16, the legislator called for urgent intervention by the government to regulate and control the spread of what she termed an “addictive game of chance”.
“I rise to seek a statement from the chairperson of the Committee on Finance regarding the measures being taken by the government in respect to its mandate of regulating and controlling gaming activities in Kenya, specifically the so-called Aviator game of chance,” she said.
Further, she has asked the Committee on Finance to investigate the game’s legality and its regulation by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB).
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Arguments Presented in Parliament About Aviator
The MP raised alarm over reports of students gambling away school fees and parents losing their savings for the sake of instant winnings.
Unlike traditional betting tied to sporting events, Aviator requires no prior knowledge, and players simply bet on how long two virtual airplanes will fly before crashing.
The simplicity, speed, and instant feedback have made the game highly addictive.
“The craze has terrorized both women and men and the youth in equal measure by gobbling up livelihoods. There are numerous cases of students gambling on their school fees and parents gambling on their savings,” added the MP.
Additionally, she criticized the aggressive marketing tactics used by betting firms, especially their placement of ads during prime-time TV and radio segments.
According to the Gilgil MP, there were rising concerns about betting-related content becoming embedded even in major news bulletins.
“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,” she added.
Also Read: Woman Takes Own Life After Losing Ksh60K in Aviator
Action on Media Houses and Betting Companies
Consequently, the lawmaker is demanding clarity on several matters including the legal status of the registration of aviator game of chance in Kenya.
Also, she has asked for clarity on the revenue generated from the taxes collected from betting and gaming activities in the country.
Moreover, the parliamentary committee on finance is expected to shed light on statistics on how much Kenyans are spending per year on betting and gaming activities and “the steps being taken by the betting control and licensing board to control advertisement on audio, visual and print media relating to aviation game”.
“Table a list including license numbers of firms including media houses that are authorized to conduct game of chance in the country, ” Martha Wangari said.
The committee has been given a Thursday, April 17, deadline to make the submissions.
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