The NLGRB plays a pivotal role in regulating Uganda’s gaming industry, ensuring compliance with established laws, and promoting responsible gaming. The Board collaborates with various stakeholders, including government agencies, operators, and the public, to foster a fair and transparent gaming environment. Through its efforts, the NLGRB aims to minimize the adverse effects of gaming while maximizing its benefits for national development.
As per the Gambling Act, 2018, gambling means ;
1. Lottery– means any scheme for the distribution of prizes by chance or lot in which the participants or a substantial number of them make a contribution for the purposes of participation in the chances of the lottery.
2. Betting – means making or accepting a bet on-
3. Bingo – means a game with a number of people, each having a card marked off as numbers are drawn, and the expression “electronic bingo” and “manual bingo” shall be construed accordingly.
4. Casino games -means any game irrespective of whether or not the result of that game is determined by chance or a measure of skill, played with playing cards, dice, gaming machine or any other device used to determine win or loss in outcome of wager for money or other valuable consideration.
As per Section 1 of the Gambling Act, 2018, a person shall not operate a Gambling establishment unless he or she has a valid licence issued by the Authority. Therefore, any form of gambling not licensed by the Authority is illegal. Illegal gambling usually takes place in homesteads, bus ranks, sheebeens, culverts, bushes, restaurants and shops (often hidden from public view).
It is an offence under the Gambling Act, 2018 to permit a minor ( a person under the age of 25) to play or take part in any gambling activity, including the buying or selling of lottery tickets.
The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB), a corporate body mandated to regulate and oversee lotteries, gaming, and betting. Established under the Lotteries and Gaming Act No. 7 of 2016, our mandate is simple yet impactful: to create a fair, transparent, and well-regulated gaming environment that benefits the nation while protecting Ugandans from the adverse effects of gaming.
