Gaming board records 23 convictions in crackdown on illegal gaming machines

_________________

Uganda’s fight against illegal gaming has registered notable progress, with at least 23 convictions secured as authorities intensify enforcement operations targeting unlicensed betting machines across the country.

The Senior Communications Officer at the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, Jacqueline Kamakune, said the convictions stem from ongoing compliance efforts aimed at sanitising the gaming industry and protecting the public from exploitation and addiction.

Speaking with the New Vision on Friday at the sidelines after the successful operation, where one individual was arrested after a series of operations around Rubaga division, with an aim of combating the illegal manufacturing of gaming machines.

The operations took place around Mengo, Rubaga and Lungujja.

The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, working with the Uganda Police, has arrested several suspects in a recent operation targeting illegal gaming.

Kamakune revealed that the regulator, established under the Lotteries and Gaming Act, has stepped up nationwide enforcement under a campaign dubbed Operation Machine Haram, an initiative specifically designed to eliminate illegal gaming machines from the market.

“It is an offence for anyone to make a gaming or betting machine available without a license, and on conviction, they are liable under the law,” Kamakune said, emphasising the board’s zero-tolerance approach to illegal operators.

According to the regulator, the 23 convictions recorded since 2024 highlight growing success in prosecuting offenders involved in unauthorised gaming activities. Several other cases remain before the court, reflecting the scale of the problem and the ongoing legal process.

Kamakune noted that enforcement teams, working alongside the Uganda Police Force, have been conducting field operations to identify, confiscate, and dismantle illegal gaming setups. So far, more than 7,000 unlicensed machines have been seized in various parts of the country.

She explained that many of the confiscated machines are assembled locally from imported motherboards, making them difficult to regulate at the point of entry. This has prompted the board to tighten surveillance and ensure such devices are removed before reaching consumers.

Beyond enforcement, Kamakune stressed that the crackdown is also about protecting citizens from gaming-related harm, including addiction and financial loss. While gaming is a legal activity in Uganda, it is strictly regulated and restricted to individuals aged 25 and above.

“We recognise that gaming can be addictive if not done responsibly. That is why we are not only enforcing the law but also creating awareness about responsible gaming,” she said.

Confiscated machines are destroyed following court orders, with the process handled in partnership with the National Enterprise Corporation, which oversees the safe disposal and recycling of components.

Authorities say the combination of enforcement, prosecution, and public sensitisation is beginning to yield results, but warn that illegal operators still pose a significant challenge where unlicensed betting shops and gaming machines have spread into villages and trading centres, often operating near schools and with little to no age verification.

Last week, the enforcement teams had confiscated 105 illegal gaming machines during a crackdown in Kampala Metropolitan and Western Region.

Kamakune reaffirmed the board’s commitment to pursuing more convictions as part of broader efforts to restore order in the gaming sector and ensure that only licensed and compliant operators are allowed to operate in Uganda.