Uganda Introduces the New National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board : pmp

By Arijit Roul - 5 Aug, 2025 More about the author

The Board will focus on public health challenges connected to betting and gambling activities.

Key Points

Uganda’s fresh gaming regulatory body has started its operations.
The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) will handle both lotteries and betting regulation in Uganda.
Legislators want the Board to put gambling addiction prevention first.

NLGRB Officially Launched in Kampala

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) officially launched and began its work, with lawmakers asking the body to help address increasing harm linked to gambling. The Board began duties during a ceremony in Kampala, now taking charge of all betting and lottery rules for the country.

Speakers at the launch said strict regulation is needed that goes beyond just giving licences or punishing rule-breakers. Some officials mentioned growing betting addiction, especially among youth, and told the Board to concentrate on keeping people safe as part of its job. Several Members of Parliament stressed the importance of making sure regulations protect players as well as controlling the market.

Participants from the Ministry of Finance joined the launch and said the Board was created to make Uganda’s gambling industry more organised and trackable. Matia Kasaija, who took the stage to kick off the launch announced that the Government looks at the gaming sector as a source of non tax revenue and also is into the practice of responsible gambling.

Industry Challenges and Next Steps

Good to know: Uganda has put forward betting tax dollars into AFCON 2027 prep. Uganda’s gaming market keeps growing, but issues like underage gambling, illegal operators, and increased social risk have led to more government attention. The Board now has to build new policies, work closely with all parties, and set up a framework for both business regulation and better protection for users.