Ethics in igaming cannot be automated, says Chop Gaming Ltd Uganda
Chop Gaming Uganda calls for a people-first approach to regulation, and warns that tech alone cannot ensure responsible gambling or player welfare.
Uganda.- As Africa’s igaming industry rides a wave of digital transformation, one of Uganda’s leading operators is making a firm call for ethics to stay rooted in humanity, not code. Chop Gaming Limited Uganda warns that ethics in gaming cannot be entirely entrusted to technology, and that this alone cannot ensure responsible gambling or player welfare.
“All the tech in the world can’t replace human empathy,” said CEO Allan Tumushabe, reported in the Daily Monitor.
“Players are not just user IDs or data points. They are real people with responsibilities, emotions and stories.”
Chop Gaming (which operates betPawa) believes players remain loyal to operators who prioritise their well-being, and regulators engage more with those who show accountability.
Driven by mobile connectivity, digital payments and a fast-growing youth population, Africa’s gaming sector is rapidly expanding. But Tumushabe warns that this growth must be grounded in more than just profit margins.
“True success is measured by how we treat our players, how we support our communities and how responsibly we engage with regulators,” he said.
In Uganda, the Lotteries and Gaming Act Cap 334 states that under 25-year-olds are restricted from gambling, and so enforcement around this is tightening. Yet Chop Gaming notes that ticking compliance boxes is not enough.
“Upholding the age restriction is not just a regulatory requirement, it is a moral obligation,” he said.
KYC procedures
Businesses in the country have adopted Know Your Customer (KYC) technology to verify player identities and monitor transactions. But Chop Gaming asserts that tools are only as effective as the people behind them.
The operator advocates for behavioural monitoring to detect addiction risks and partnerships with counselling services to offer real support. He also rejects the long-held notion that ethics undercuts profits. In fact, Tumushabe argues that responsibility builds stronger brands and long-term revenue.
While the United Kingdom and Malta offer useful ethical models, Uganda needs bold, locally driven solutions to lead its own path. Tumushabe acknowledged that Uganda had made commendable strides in reducing underage gambling but that it now needs a future-ready framework that adapts to emerging tech and inclusivity.
That future, he said, needed to be shaped collaboratively through partnerships across government, industry and civil society.
“We are betting on a future where integrity, innovation and inclusivity define Africa’s gaming industry,” he said.
