Uganda Confiscates Dozens of Illegal Slot Machines in Nationwide Crackdown

Uganda’s booming gaming sector, one of the fastest-growing in East Africa, has come under tougher scrutiny as authorities intensify their fight against unlicensed gambling.

In a sweeping three-day operation, regulators and police seized more than 50 illegal gaming machines across the country in an effort to curb unregulated betting.

The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (LGRB), working alongside the Uganda Police Force, announced that the coordinated raids—branded Operation Mashine Haramu (“illegal machine”)—zeroed in on operators in Masaka City and Mpigi District.

On Friday in Mpigi, enforcement teams dismantled and carted off over 20 slot machines, sealing multiple gaming premises in the process. Locals, who had gathered to watch, applauded as the machines were hauled away. The day prior, similar raids in Masaka led to the seizure of more than 30 machines.

Officials said the crackdown reflects mounting concern that unlicensed operators are draining public coffers while exposing vulnerable groups to gambling-related harms. “Your vigilance plays an important role in helping us regulate the gaming industry and safeguard the public,” the Board said in a public appeal, urging citizens to report illicit gaming suppliers through toll-free lines and dedicated email hotlines.

Government figures highlight the stakes involved. Licensed gaming contributed roughly 150 billion Ugandan shillings ($39 million) in tax revenue during the 2022/23 fiscal year, a marked rise from 121 billion shillings the year before. Yet the LGRB estimates that a significant portion of gambling activity continues to flow through unlicensed machines, especially in rural communities where enforcement is notoriously difficult.

The Ugandan clampdown comes as part of a broader regional push to strengthen control over the gaming sector. Neighboring Kenya and Tanzania have recently moved to tighten licensing rules and hike taxes, citing growing social concern about gambling addiction and its impact on young populations. 

By fLEXI tEAM