NLGRB combats underage gaming with school outreach program
The National Gaming and Lotteries Act empowers NLGRB to oversee gaming activities, promote responsible gaming and shield vulnerable groups from potential harm.
Uganda.- The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board of Uganda (NLGRB) has recently stepped up its nationwide campaign against underage gaming, which involves visiting schools to educate students about the dangers of betting and gambling at a young age.
The campaign, which has already seen the board engage with students and teachers at Mbale High School, Nkoma High School, Manafawa SS and Nakaloke SS, emphasises the importance of prioritising academics over the allure of fast cash.
At Mbale High School, a total of 6,066 students, 160 teachers and 46 non-teaching staff participated in the safer gambling engagement conducted by the board. During the session, participants learned about the risks of premature betting exposure, warning signs of gaming addiction and ways to access help.
Rogers Taitika, police spokesperson for Elgon Region, praised the board’s initiative, citing a recent case where a student tragically lost their life after betting away school fees. According to him, there is a need for proactive education as awareness is the first line of defence against addiction.
Two days later, the campaign train moved to Nkoma High School, where students were encouraged to focus on their studies rather than chasing quick profits. The head teacher backed the initiative, introducing a new policy that restricts phone use on campus to prevent students from accessing betting platforms without supervision.
At Manafawa SS, a day and boarding school with 500 students, the head teacher revealed that the school has dealt with numerous cases of students who have had to stop their education because they gambled away their school fees. Motivated by the presentation, students urged the board to establish an anti-underage gaming club to tackle the issue within their school.
On June 25, the regulator delivered its campaign to more than 3,500 students at Nakaloke SS. Three students shared their experiences of betting with school fees and expressed their desire to stop after learning about the legal and mental consequences on minors.
The boys’ prefect also recounted his personal story of being addicted to betting with school fees, and how he has since overcome it. He encouraged his fellow students to quit betting if they’re already involved and to avoid it altogether if they haven’t started.
Based on recent surveys, nearly 15 per cent of young people in Uganda aged 15 to 17 have placed bets over the past year, and the trend is growing due to the increased use of smartphones.
The National Gaming and Lotteries Act empowers NLGRB to oversee gaming activities, promote responsible gaming and shield vulnerable groups from potential harm.
