NLGRB Confiscates More Than 6,000 Illegal Gaming Machines in Nationwide Operation “Mashine Haramu”
The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB), in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force, has confiscated more than 6,000 illegal gaming machines nationwide through Operation “Mashine Haramu.”
For Ugandan citizens, the presence of unlicensed machines in local shops and communities poses a significant threat to social well-being. Unlike regulated equipment, these unlicensed machines operate outside the legal safeguards designed to protect players and ensure fair play.
Consequently, they expose communities to unregulated and potentially exploitative practices, put minors and vulnerable individuals at considerable risk, and function without any oversight regarding their integrity or payout fairness. This is where the regulator, NLGRB, intervenes to protect the public and uphold regulatory standards.
Read Also: Hon. Henry Musasizi Launches NLGRB Strategic Plan for FY2025/26 – FY2029/30
Recent operations have seen the confiscation of 102 machines from the Luuka, Mayuge, and Kumi districts, as well as 215 machines across West Nile. These actions are part of a broader strategy to foster an environment where compliance is the expected standard, and the public interest is prioritized over illegal profits.
The expansion of the NLGRB’s enforcement footprint is an ongoing process. To maintain the integrity of Uganda’s regulated gaming industry, the Board encourages community involvement in identifying illegal operators.
While these figures represent a significant enforcement milestone, the impact of these seizures extends far beyond simple statistics, it represents a fundamental shift toward accountability and public safety in the gaming sector.
