Sportspesa ads banned between 5am and 10pm

Content regulator has given a blackout to betting agencies that will see their advertisements not being aired between 5am and 10pm.

In a set of new regulations outlined by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), you should not be distracted by the pop ups and adverts of sportspesa and bet in.

The adverts have been declared too persuasive to influence children who are not conscious enough to make sound decisions.

"Commercials relating to betting should be classified as unsuitable to watershed period. This will not be applicable to government lotteroies, lotto or contests," said Mutua.

Sports pesa is arguably the largest betting business with over 800,000 subscribers who over 500,000 acre active users with daily transactions.

An average user spends Sh500 with others investing tens of thousands in the bet in order to stand a chance to win millions in jackpot which means in a month the betting agency stands to profit from Sh30o million.

Currently the jackpot stands at Sh10 million with a potential of rising to over Sh30 million. In January Elima Khanaisa became the first female to win the jackpot that was a whooping Sh22 million.

All contraceptive ads will also be classified as unsuitable for the watershed period and should not showcase abstinence from sex negatively.

"This means billboards showcasing some aspects of nudity, alcoholic behaviour or betting will be brought down," Mutua warned.

Advertisers have also been barred from using cartoons in advertising alcoholic beverages. Mutua said the regulations cut across global adverts noting that Cocacola is one of the brands that was had to change their advert as it was not conforming to the countries moral standards.

Similarly, billboards advertisers having these unsuitable watershed adverts will be given 14 days to have them brought down failure to which they will be demolished and the owners fined.

The new regulations come barely a week after the regulator signed a Memorandum of understanding with Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) that will see the two partner in ensuring content adheres to national values.