Ten years after it was created, the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board has grown into one of Uganda’s major sources of non-tax revenue. Money staked in gambling is now projected to reach Shs14.1 trillion, up from just Shs50 billion when the sector was first formalised.
Appearing before the Parliament’s Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Acting Executive Director Bernard Winyi said the growth has been driven by tighter licensing, better compliance and the use of digital monitoring.
Non-tax revenue collected by the Board rose from Shs1.14 billion in 2019/2020 to Shs8.79 billion in 2024/2025. Overall annual collections from the gaming sector increased from Shs17.4 billion in 2015/2016 to Shs323 billion in 2024/2025, and are expected to reach Shs391 billion in 2025/2026.
A key change was the introduction of an electronic monitoring system that tracks gambling activity in real time. Previously, operators declared their own figures. With digital tracking, recorded gambling stakes jumped to Shs4.3 trillion in 2023/2024, Shs8.3 trillion in 2024/2025, and are projected at Shs14.1 trillion this financial year. This has made tax collection more accurate.
Lawmakers praised the progress. Otuke County MP Paul Omara said the Board’s performance now mirrors that of the Uganda Revenue Authority.
However, MPs raised concerns about illegal gaming machines still entering the country. Sheema Municipality MP Dicksons Kateshumbwa asked how the regulator is working with URA to stop them.
Winyi explained that many machines are imported as computer spare parts and assembled locally to avoid detection, but the Board is now working with URA Customs to identify them.
For 2026/2027, the Board targets Shs450 billion in revenue, a 15 percent increase. The focus will be on stronger enforcement, better compliance and full use of the electronic monitoring system.
State Minister for Finance and Planning Amos Lugoloobi urged continued funding for regulation, saying stronger oversight could raise even more revenue.
In short, better rules, technology and parliamentary support have turned the gaming sector from a small contributor into a major source of government income.
