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Uganda’s gambling regulator has called for the gambling law to be updated to improve clarity and better address online gambling.
Aloysius Adyeri, the chair of the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB), called the current law “old” during a stakeholder engagement event in the capital of Kampala on Saturday (April 12).
“We are amending it to guide us through the challenges of the times. We seek to clarify ambiguous provisions in the law, especially in emerging areas like online gaming,” he said.
Adyeri stressed that he was not at the event to share changes but to start a dialogue and build consensus with the industry.
“These amendments are not cast in stone. They must be grounded in industry realities,” he said.
The head of the regulator also announced that a 1 percent turnover contribution is being reintroduced to ensure that gambling contributes to societal causes.
Adyeri encouraged the Ugandan gambling industry to form an industry association, adding: “When you talk collectively, you are heard faster than as an individual.”
“Gaming is capable of reducing the amount of borrowing this country can do. Gaming is holding serious responsibility to Uganda’s economy,” Adyeri said.
Uganda’s last amendments to the Lotteries and Gaming Act were passed in June 2023. There are no current proposed amendments available on the gambling regulator’s website or parliament’s bill tracker.
Vixio GamblingCompliance has contacted the NLGRB for clarification on what the proposed amendments to the gambling law will be.
Uganda Continues Illegal Gambling Crackdown
Meanwhile, the NLGRB has continued its enforcement drive against illegal gambling machines, seizing more than 100 units and making arrests in its latest sweep.
With the help of the police, the NLGRB announced on April 14 that it had shut down illegal gambling venues in a long list of cities around the country in a coordinated effort to crack down on illegal gambling.
It follows the regulator’s announcement in March that it had “intensified its crackdown on illegal gaming operations” after helping law enforcement officers seize 50 illegally imported gaming machine parts, 18 slot machines and six gaming tables, as well as arresting a Chinese national who faces the possibility of fines or imprisonment.
The NLGRB said it “continues to enforce strict measures to ensure all gaming activities in Uganda are legal, transparent and properly supervised. Unlicensed operators not only evade taxation but also pose serious risks, such as promoting underage gaming, fraud and money laundering.”
On February 18, the NLGRB stated that a “major step” was taken in its fight against illegal gambling when more than 1,092 unlicensed machines were sent to be destroyed.
Players in Uganda have been repeatedly warned of the risks of playing on illegal gambling machines, as the lack of oversight means outcomes are often manipulated and payouts are often not honoured. Illegal machines are often also linked to criminal activity, including money laundering.
