Police, Lotteries & Gaming Board Partner to Combat Illegal Gaming

The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board has joined forces with the Uganda Police Force to tackle the growing challenge of illegal gaming. The partnership comes at a critical time when there is a rise in illegal gambling activities, particularly online betting, which pose significant challenges.

The different modes of gambling range from sports betting, casino gambling, national lottery/play lotto, slot machines, betting on animals, ludo (board game), pool betting, and online betting, among others.

Some gaming platforms operating illegally have increasingly targeted young people, exposing them to financial risks and harmful gambling habits.

In line with Section 4(l) of the Lotteries and Gaming Act, 2016, the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board is mandated to protect citizens from the adverse effects of gaming.

To exercise this mandate, the Board works with the Uganda Police Force.

The Board has held a stakeholder engagement with DPCs and Division CID Officers from the Kampala Metropolitan Area aimed, among other things, to protect Ugandans from the adverse effects of gaming and enforcement against illegal operations.

The Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Commander, Richard Ecega, highlighted the importance of collaboration with the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board to ensure the gaming sector operates legally and responsibly.

“The collaboration with the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board is crucial in ensuring that the gaming sector operates within the law and upholds responsibility,” – he said.

“We need to educate the community about the risks of gaming, especially as we know that gaming is addictive, and it is a game of chance. We are building our capacity in cybercrime such that we are able to protect and prevent all crimes that are committed online,” – he added.

The Board CEO, Denis Mudene, said the body is committed to addressing the harmful effects of gambling on society, especially among vulnerable groups such as young people. He acknowledged that there are some gambling companies that operate illegally, saying that they must be brought under the law.

“There are those that are illegal; there are many, especially those that are not branded. In your jurisdiction, look at those betting shops that don’t have any branding. That is one sign of an illegal company,” – he said.

Mudene reiterated the Board’s commitment to fostering a gaming industry that balances entertainment with the protection of the public from gaming harm.

“Betting is addictive and can be psychologically harmful. So, part of our efforts is to ensure that we create awareness about this gaming industry,” – Mudene said.

Since the year 2000, the gambling industry in Uganda has experienced a rapid increase in activity, with various new modes and facilities being introduced. The proliferation of gambling has seen the industry diversify from the early forms of gambling, like casino gambling and national lotteries, to new modes like sports betting and online betting, among other forms.

There is a considerable concern about the potential for gambling to cause harm in the form of addictions, loss of savings, idleness, suicidal thoughts, and increased crime.

A 2023 study conducted by the Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board unveiled alarming statistics surrounding gambling in Uganda. The research, which surveyed 1,739 individuals across 14 districts, found that gambling is predominantly a male activity. 58% of the respondents were aged below 30, highlighting the growing prevalence of gambling among the youth.

Equally troubling were the mental health implications linked to gambling, as nearly half of the gamblers surveyed reported experiencing significant psychological challenges, including stress, anxiety, and depression.

A recent survey conducted in Kampala by the Makerere University Think Tank, the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), showed that approximately one in every four adults had engaged in some form of gambling. Age, income, employment status, and gender are major determinants in gambling participation.

Gambling also has the greatest displacement effect on household necessities and savings and has, to some extent, led to problem gambling.

Under Section 5 of the Lotteries and Gaming Act (Cap 334), the Board is authorized to seize and confiscate unlicensed gaming equipment.

The engagement also addressed the Board’s mandate, outlined in the Lotteries and Gaming Act of 2016, to protect citizens from the negative impacts of gaming.

Source: chimpreports.com

About Post Author

Samuel

I am a journalist specializing in gambling in Africa and around the world. I am particularly interested in stories about games and casinos.

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Samuel

I am a journalist specializing in gambling in Africa and around the world. I am particularly interested in stories about games and casinos.