Online gambling regulation in Uganda

Prohibited. Lotteries and Gaming Act 2016 provision criminalising advertising unlicensed lotteries; Lotteries and Gaming (Betting) Regulations 2017 clause banning advertising unlicensed gaming or betting.

Promoting or advertising unlicensed lotteries is explicitly a criminal offence; betting regulations also prohibit advertising unlicensed gaming or betting activities.

National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) — lgrb.go.ug

Lotteries and Gaming Act, 2016 (Act No. 7 of 2016), supplemented by Lotteries and Gaming (Betting) Regulations, 2017.

Online casino: Licensed. Online sports betting: Licensed.

We could not confirm a public register. NLGRB website lists licensing information but a comprehensive, up‑to‑date public whitelist of all licensed online operators is not clearly identifiable.

https://lgrb.go.ug/

• ISP and domain blocking with Uganda Communications Commission
• Removal of unlawful and non-compliant gaming adverts from billboards and media
• Administrative sanctions, fines and licence suspension by NLGRB
• Criminal offence for advertising unlicensed lotteries under Lotteries and Gaming Act 2016

• Must not advertise or promote any gaming or betting activity that is not licensed by the Board
• Advertisements must include warning statement: “Betting is addictive and can be psychologically harmful” or translated equivalent
• Advertising must not target minors and must avoid lewd, misleading or indecent content
• Ads must not present betting as solution to financial difficulties or way to recover past losses

• NLGRB Responsible Gaming Directives 2025 adopted, covering all land-based and online gambling and betting
• NLGRB FY2025/26–FY2029/30 Strategic Plan launched to strengthen regulation and curb illegal gaming
• NLGRB and Uganda Communications Commission initiative to strengthen monitoring of online gambling and digital advertising content

• Exact sections governing online casino and remote betting licensing under the Lotteries and Gaming Act, 2016 are not clearly identified in accessible summaries
• Scope of centralised payments gateway proposal and its current implementation status remain uncertain from public sources
• Existence of a dedicated statutory instrument specifically for online gambling, separate from betting regulations, is not clearly confirmed
• Details of any formal ISP blocking procedure or list for illegal gambling sites are not fully documented publicly beyond reported joint actions
• Whether poker has a distinct licence class versus being covered by a general gaming/casino licence.
• Whether sweepstakes/social casinos are treated as gaming, promotions, or unregulated activity.
• Whether prediction markets are overseen as gambling or financial products.
• Whether loot boxes/mystery boxes are specifically addressed by consumer, gaming, or youth-protection rules.

1. lgrb.go.ug/
2. softswiss.com/gambling-regulation-map/uganda/
3. businesslicences.go.ug/kcfinder/upload/files/Lotteries%20and%20Gaming%20(Betting)%20Regulations,%202017.pdf
4. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/uganda/for-operators
5. linkedin.com/posts/afrigaming-bulletin_afrigamingbulletin-nlgrb-cosase-activity-7498665946904096770-5DDO
6. igamingtoday.com/ugandas-nlgrb-launches-responsible-gaming-directives-for-safer-gambling-practices/
7. igamingtoday.com/gambling-regulation-in-uganda/
8. gamblingtalk.net/news/uganda-regulator-removes-unlawful-gaming-adverts-in-targeted-billboard-crackdown
9. pokerrankings.eu/go/uganda-en/article/legal-info/
10. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/uganda
11. evenbetgaming.com/blog/online-poker-in-africa/
12. cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-gambling-laws-in-africa/uganda
13. monitor.co.ug/uganda/brand-book/navigating-the-legal-landscape-the-status-of-online-gambling-in-uganda-4584752
14. legalpilot.com/country/uganda/
15. bet-legal.com/melbet-uganda/
16. practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/comparison/1077/18175/28773-28774-28775-28776-28777-28778-28779-28780-28781-28782-28783
17. practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/tmt-2026/uganda

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.