Uganda destroys over 2,000 slot machines in nationwide crackdown against illegal gambling
The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board ramps up enforcement to protect players and uphold integrity in the gambling sector.
Uganda.- Uganda’s fight against illegal gambling has taken a decisive leap forward as the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) destroyed 2,347 unlicensed slot machines this week.
This wave of destruction pushes the total number of unauthorised machines destroyed in 2025 to 3,347, with thousands more still held pending court orders. The destruction took place at Luwero Industries and was handled by National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), a licensed e-waste company tasked with responsible disposal.
“These were all unlicensed machines being used,” said NLGRB CEO Denis Ngabirano, according to the Nile Post.
The NLGRB has seized over 5,000 illegal machines so far this year, intensifying inspections and crackdowns under the Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap 334, which mandates licensing for all gaming operators.
Ngabirano said the crackdown aims to protect the public, especially vulnerable gamblers.
“If you gamble with an unlicensed operator and they don’t pay you, we cannot help you. But licensed operators have a bank guarantee with us. If they default on paying a winner, we investigate and, if confirmed, the Board can pay out that claim using the guarantee,” he explained.
Ngabirano clarified the fate of coins found inside confiscated machines during raids.
“During the loading and inventory process, any money found in these machines is counted in the presence of auditors, legal and enforcement teams. To date, we’ve recovered about Shs 11 million ($2,900), and all of it has been deposited into the Consolidated Fund,” he said.
Transparency and accountability in destruction
This destruction campaign is part of a comprehensive enforcement strategy. The Board’s Inspection and Compliance Unit conducts regular checks while the enforcement division seizes illegal machines. These machines are secured and only destroyed once the Standards and Utilities Court issues orders.
Ngabirano addressed rumours suggesting confiscated machines find their way back into the market, calling them “very false”.
“We maintain a strict registry and transparent process from confiscation, court orders, to destruction. We even match court and NEC records to maintain accountability,” he said.
To stop the influx of illegal machines, the NLGRB works closely with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). Ngabirano has called on all betting businesses to obtain proper licences, warning that enforcement efforts will persist until full compliance is achieved nationwide.
