NLGRB Uganda Reports Increased Revenues from Lottery and Gambling Activity

The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has reported a significant increase in revenues from Uganda’s lotteries and gaming sector and it attributes the gains to strengthened regulation and the rollout of the National Central Electronic Monitoring System.

As reported by the Parliament of Uganda, the Board appeared before the Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development, where officials outlined how regulatory reforms have improved compliance and transparency in the sector.

Presenting to the committee, NLGRB Acting Executive Director Bernard Winyi said the Board had registered an eight-fold increase in non-tax revenue collections over recent years from Shs1.14 billion in the financial year 2019/2020 to Shs8.79 billion in financial year 2024/2025. “The Board registered an eightfold rise in non-tax revenue collection which was driven by improved licensing, revised fee structures and strengthened compliance systems,” Winyi told MPs.

According to figures presented to Parliament annual revenues increased from Shs17.4 billion in the 2015/16 financial year to Shs323 billion in 2024/25.

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Parliament was told that the introduction of the National Central Electronic Monitoring System significantly improved the regulator’s visibility into betting activity, particularly total gambling stakes. The Board also explained that prior to the system’s implementation, much of the sector relied on manual declarations by operators, limiting the regulator’s ability to accurately track transactions.

“When we operationalised the system, the stakes grew to Shs4.3 trillion in 2023/2024 and Shs8.3 trillion in 2024/2025. In the financial year 2025/2026, we are projecting that gambling stakes will go up to Shs14.1 trillion. This visibility has enabled us to improve on tax collection,” Winyi said.

While welcoming the improved revenue performance, Members of Parliament were also quick to raise concerns about the continued presence of illegal gaming machines, particularly in rural areas. MPs urged the regulator to strengthen enforcement and work more closely with other government agencies to address unlicensed operations. The committee also called for sustained oversight to ensure that revenue growth is matched with responsible gaming measures and protection for vulnerable groups.