Online casinos accepting players from Uganda

Part of the African Great Lakes region, Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. Also referred to as the Republic of Uganda, the country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the southwest by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania.

Online gambling in Uganda is legal, but with certain restrictions. In addition to locally licensed operators, a huge number of offshore operators target the market, giving players a more diversified selection of games to choose from.

When it comes to land-based casinos in Uganda, they are mainly located in the country’s capital city, and the largest one- Kampala, but there’s one venue in Jinja as well. Government has a monopoly on sports betting.

Laws and Regulations

The entire gambling industry of the country relies upon the National Lotteries Act of 1967, and the Gaming and Pool Betting (Control and Taxation) Act of 1968. There’s also The Lotteries and Gaming Act No. 7 of 2016, supported by a number of regulations.

Each of them encompasses a different field, as follows:

• Lotteries and Gaming (Minimum Capital Requirements Regulations 2017)
• The Lotteries and Gaming (Licensing) Regulations 2017
• The Lotteries and Gaming (Fees) Regulations 2017
• The Lotteries and Gaming (Gaming and Betting Machines) Regulations 2017
• The Lotteries and Gaming (Betting) Regulations 2017

As for the regulatory bodies, the main institution is Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (LGRB) along with the National Gaming Board Uganda(NGBU). The industry is regulated by the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, whereas Uganda Lottery Company (ULC) has a monopoly on lottery products. Gamble Aware Uganda is in charge of player protection.

To be able to operate lawfully, gaming and pool betting operators need to obtain three different licenses. One promoter license is needed to operate outside Uganda, and two principal agents’ licenses are required for the promotion of business within or outside the country.

Players can take part in interactive sports betting either on the Internet or on their mobile phones. Other forms of interactive gambling are not permitted. Also, slot machines in shops and small businesses are banned as well.

In terms of taxes, all land-based gambling verticals are imposed a 35% GGR tax. Interactive operators need to pay a 20% GGR tax plus a 15% prize win tax.

Player Protection and Responsible Gambling Measures

In most countries, the minimum gambling age is 18 or 21, but Uganda has somewhat stricter rules. Only consumers who are over 25 can gamble.

To ensure underage consumers and sensitive groups of the population are not exposed to gambling, the Board came up with a set of requirements, among which the location of the premises themselves. As far as indicated all venues must be located away from schools, hospitals, markets, places of worship, and government buildings. Plus, the facility itself needs to be of a permanent structure. All equipment needs to be registered by the Board.

In order to level up player protection measures, NGBU announced the development of a system aimed to track gamblers’ activity and safeguard against underage gambling in May 2018. This central monitoring system was scheduled to take effect in December 2018.

Wanting to ensure its local policies are in line with international requirements, the LGRB appointed Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) to assist them in developing new technical standards for the gaming industry. GLI’s task was to train the staff and help the Board with drafting new ones and adjusting the existing criteria.

As the industry in general is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of promoting responsibility, a growing number of casinos are putting a special focus on responsible gambling tools. There are options to set up daily, weekly, and monthly limits not only on deposits but on wagers and losses as well. Other tools include reality checks, cool off, and self-exclusion.

Therefore, if you want to gamble in an environment that prioritizes protection and responsibility, always pick casinos that have some of the above-mentioned tools. Also, see what are the available channels for communication with the support team- it’s great to know that someone out there can help you resolve the issue if any appears.

Payment Methods and Banking

The shilling or UGX for short is the official currency of Uganda, but no operators have this option in their cashiers. Instead, people usually place bets in USD or other available options.

When it comes to crypto, the Central Bank of Uganda is considering its introduction. Although consumers may purchase, hold, and trade crypto assets, they are still not regulated. The adoption of crypto is heating up in Africa, and the number of consumers using this payment method is on the rise, which definitely is a good sign in terms of legalization.

Choosing a currency is just one of the tasks players need to complete, to say so. There are a couple more details to pay attention to such as minimums and maximums for transactions, potential fees, processing time, and verification procedure.

What Should Players from Uganda Pay Attention to When Selecting a Casino?

With so many new casinos joining the industry on a daily basis, choosing the best one can often be challenging. They all seem attractive on the surface, but sometimes, when taking a closer look, players may get disappointed. That’s why it’s of huge importance to take multiple aspects into account when deciding where to deposit and play.

Here are a couple of questions that may be of help when choosing an online casino:

• Does the operator have a valid license? Is it visible on the main page?
• How good is the selection of studios and casino games? Are there enough slot releases and table/ live games to choose from?
• What’s the selection of bonuses and promotions? Are wagering requirements difficult to meet? Is there any Loyalty program?
• Are the info on available payment methods, processing times, and ID verification procedures easy to find on the website?

Once you have all these questions answered, you’ll be a couple of steps closer to finding an online casino that fits your demands. Always read the Terms and Conditions, and gamble responsibly!

FAQ

Is it legal to gamble online in Uganda?

Ugandan players can gamble online on locally licensed websites or on offshore platforms. Interactive sports betting is permitted on the Internet and mobile devices, while other forms are classified as unlawful. 

What are the most popular casino games in Uganda?

Ugandan consumers like to play slot games, but Blackjack and Roulette are popular as well. Sports betting, being officially regulated, is also among the top choices of local players.

Is demo play available in Uganda -friendly online casinos?

Of course, players from Uganda can play games in fun mode. The only thing worth noting is that some casinos require consumers to create an account prior to becoming eligible to access demo games, while others offer this option to non-registered clients as well.

What kind of online casino bonuses can Ugandan players claim?

Given upon registering or making a first deposit, welcome bonuses are extremely popular with players from all over the world, and Uganda is no exception. Other than this, players can claim weekly promotions, and cashback offers, take part in tournaments, take advantage of Refer a Friend program, and so on.

Can players from Uganda gamble on mobile devices?

Of course, Ugandan players can check out their favorite games while out and about. Casinos can be accessed from Apple, Android, or any other devices, securing the most immersive mobile casino experience.