Uganda Sees Surge in Gambling Revenue Amid Regulatory Overhaul

Uganda is reporting significant gains from its revamped approach to gambling regulation, with revenue from the sector showing substantial growth. According to the country’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, non-tax revenue from the gaming industry has increased nearly eight-fold, rising from Sh 1.14 billion (£232,945) in the 2019/20 financial year to Sh 8.79 billion (£1.8 million) in FY 2024/25. Annual revenue collection has also seen a dramatic rise, climbing from Sh 17.4 billion (£3.6 million) in FY 2015/16 to Sh 323 billion (£66 million) in FY 2024/25.

These large increases have been largely attributed to improved licensing frameworks and revised fee structures implemented by the gaming board. The overall growth in Uganda also reflects a wider trend across Africa, where iGaming is expanding rapidly due to higher mobile penetration and the growing popularity of remote gaming, particularly among younger demographics.

Bernard Winyi, the acting Executive Director of Uganda’s gaming board, highlighted the impact of introducing a National Central Electronic Monitoring System, noting that it has enhanced the visibility of operators and gambling activities. Previously, operators were allowed to self-declare the amounts staked by individuals, which created opportunities for discrepancies and limited regulatory oversight.

“When we operationalised the system, the stakes grew to Shs 4.3 trillion in 2023/2024 and Shs 8.3 trillion in 2024/2025. In the financial year 2025/2026, we are projecting that gambling stakes will go up to Shs 14.1 trillion. This visibility has enabled us to improve on tax collection,” Winyi explained.

Despite these successes, the Ugandan Government remains concerned about the presence of illicit gaming machines in the country. The board has been credited with confiscating 1,418 illegal machines through targeted enforcement actions, yet officials questioned how the regulator can prevent the importation of such devices. Winyi noted the challenge, stating, “Most of these illegal machines do not pass through customs as gambling machines, but as spare parts for computers like motherboards that are exempt from tax. They later get assembled into complete machines.”

Moving forward, Uganda’s regulatory board, inaugurated in August 2025, aims to maintain momentum in curbing the black market while supporting the regulated sector. Strengthening oversight, tackling gambling-related harms, and addressing illegal operators will form key priorities for the board as it continues to implement tighter controls and enhance compliance across the industry.

By fLEXI tEAM