Uganda blocks 23 illegal gaming websites, destroys 6,749 machines
Twenty-one of the 24 cases brought against operators, importers and suppliers of illegal gaming equipment in the three years to June 2026 resulted in convictions.
Uganda.- Uganda’s gambling regulator has reported the blocking of 23 unlicensed gaming websites and the destruction of 6,749 illegal gaming machines valued at UGX 6.21bn (US$1.7m) in 2026, as authorities stepped up action against gambling businesses operating outside the country’s licensing system.
According to the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB), the 6,749 machines were destroyed under court orders. The regulator has seized 10,020 machines over the past five years. The website access restrictions were implemented in collaboration with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), which works with telecommunications companies and internet service providers to block unlicensed gaming platforms.
The regulator is also pursuing legal action against illegal gambling businesses. In the three years to June 2026, it prosecuted 24 operators, importers and suppliers linked to unlawful gaming activities. Twenty-one cases resulted in convictions, while three remained pending. The prosecutions involved 19 Ugandan nationals and five Chinese nationals, the regulator reported.
The NLGRB also received 125 consumer complaints involving UGX 2.66bn (US$592,838) in the 2025/26 financial year. Of these, 112 complaints involving UGX 2.57bn (US$572,780) were resolved.
The enforcement drive follows an August directive from Uganda’s Parliament urging the NLGRB to strengthen action against unlicensed gaming, particularly in rural areas where regulatory oversight is weaker.
Subsequent illegal gambling crackdowns have targeted rural districts. In October, the regulator and police seized 36 illegal gaming machines in Amuru, Amolatar and Dokolo. In a separate operation, enforcement teams confiscated more than 170 machines across 11 districts, including Ibanda, Mbarara, Kabale, Pallisa, Apac and Oyam. The board has credited police, local leaders and members of the public for helping identify suspected illegal gaming operations.
