Under new legislation, decision-makers are working on ensuring all betting payouts go through the Bank of Uganda with the aim of boosting tax compliance and fighting illicit flows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kampala: Uganda’s gaming industry is bracing for a seismic shift as the government moves to bring every betting payout under the watchful eye of the central bank. Starting in the 2025\/2026 financial year, all licensed operators of casinos, gaming and betting platforms will be required to channel payouts through a centralised payments gateway overseen by the Bank of Uganda<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bold reform comes courtesy of the Tax Procedures Code (Amendment) Bill 2025<\/strong>, a proposal currently under scrutiny by the House Committee on Finance. The bill was tabled in April 2025 by junior Minister for Finance Henry Musasizi<\/strong>, who told Parliament the move was part of a broader campaign to tighten financial controls and boost tax compliance in a rapidly growing and often opaque sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “An operator of a casino, gaming or betting activity shall only receive a wager or money staked and only make payouts through the gaming and betting centralised payments gateway system licensed by the Bank of Uganda under the National Payments Systems Act<\/strong>,” the Bill reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If passed, this provision would mean that every win from a lucky spin at a casino to a winning sports bet must be paid out via the central gateway, effectively putting a stop to off-the-books cash payments and rogue transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The centralised system will also be directly linked to the Uganda Revenue Authority<\/strong> (URA)’s electronic notice system, allowing tax authorities to track transactions in real-time and crack down on revenue leakage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislation isn’t stopping at financial monitoring either. Another clause in the bill proposes replacing Tax Identification Numbers (TIN)<\/strong> with National Identification Numbers (NIN)<\/strong>, streamlining personal identification for tax purposes. If it gets the green light, the NIN would become the primary tool for tracking taxpayer obligations, further tightening the net on evasive financial behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The move has stirred debate across the country’s bustling betting landscape. Operators are concerned about the costs and logistics of integrating with the centralised system, while players worry about privacy and the reach of government oversight. Still, lawmakers appear determined to press ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Supporters of this bill argue that a centralised system will protect punters and the public purse. They say it will bring about transparency to a sector that has remained largely unregulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The gaming and betting industry in Uganda has ballooned in recent years. But with that growth has come a spike in tax evasion, financial misconduct and concerns over money laundering. Officials hope the new framework will mitigate these risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether the bill sails through Parliament as-is or undergoes significant revision, one thing is clear: Uganda’s gaming sector is heading for a high-stakes reckoning. <\/p>\n\n\nWhat this means for players<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mixed reaction on Bill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n