Uganda gambling board to launch new monitoring system

The National Gambling Board Uganda has revealed that it is developing a central monitoring system designed to track gambling activity and ensure that minors are excluded from betting.

CEO Edgar Agaba told local reporters this week that the system would be linked to the National Identification and Registration Authority for identity checking, and to Uganda’s Financial Intelligence Authority to combat money laundering.

The system should be operational by December this year, he advised noting that once implemented, Ugandan residents wishing to gamble will have to register with the Board

Agaba said there are over 730 gaming venues in Kampala (the capital of Uganda) alone, but only 583 had the Board’s licence approval. He revealed that action by the Board had resulted in the shuttering in the first six months of last year of almost a hundred illegal operators, with more expected in the 2017-2018 period..

The Board has thus far issued 26 online sports betting licenses and five online casino licenses to operators prepared to pay Uganda’s rather hefty 20 percent on GGR along with corporate taxes and other stiff overheads.

Players are also required to pay 15 percent of their winnings to the state, making profitable business a challenge.