Uganda Destroys Over 2,000 Illegal Slot Machines in Intensified Crackdown on Unlicensed Gambling

In a bold step toward curbing illegal gambling, Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has destroyed 2,347 unlicensed slot machines as part of a wider national crackdown.

This latest action brings the total number of unauthorised machines destroyed in 2025 to 3,347, with many more still impounded pending court directives.

The destruction operation, carried out at Luwero Industries, was overseen by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), a certified e-waste disposal entity. The initiative underscores the government’s intensified enforcement of the Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap 334, which mandates that all gaming operators be duly licensed.

“These were all unlicensed machines being used,” said Denis Ngabirano, Chief Executive Officer of the NLGRB.

So far this year, the NLGRB has confiscated over 5,000 illegal slot machines. With inspections becoming more frequent and enforcement operations ramped up, the regulatory body is firm in its commitment to protect consumers—particularly those vulnerable to gambling exploitation.

“If you gamble with an unlicensed operator and they don’t pay you, we cannot help you,” Ngabirano explained. “But licensed operators have a bank guarantee with us. If they default on paying a winner, we investigate and, if confirmed, the Board can pay out that claim using the guarantee.”

The board has also provided transparency about money found within the seized machines during raids. Ngabirano clarified the handling of such funds, stating: “During the loading and inventory process, any money found in these machines is counted in the presence of auditors, legal and enforcement teams. To date, we’ve recovered about Shs 11 million ($2,900), and all of it has been deposited into the Consolidated Fund.”

This campaign of destruction is embedded within a broader enforcement structure. The NLGRB’s Inspection and Compliance Unit routinely carries out audits, while its enforcement wing undertakes seizures. Machines are only destroyed after court authorization, specifically from the Standards and Utilities Court.

Rumours have circulated alleging that confiscated slot machines somehow re-enter the market. Ngabirano categorically denied such claims.

“We maintain a strict registry and transparent process from confiscation, court orders, to destruction. We even match court and NEC records to maintain accountability,” he said, calling the rumours “very false.”

In a bid to curb the inflow of illegal gaming machines into the country, the NLGRB continues to collaborate with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). Ngabirano issued a stern reminder to all gaming operators across Uganda to secure the necessary licenses, warning that the crackdown will not abate until full nationwide compliance is achieved.

By fLEXI tEAM