Betting sites in Uganda

Ugandan sports betting

As a hugely controversial yet enjoyable part of Ugandan life, many people in the country like to take part in the various betting options that they have. However, over the years it has began to change – the way in which many Ugandans can place bets on has changed, especially with the political decisions taking place in 2020.

Ugandan betting has a long history, and has been one of the most important parts of the recreational spaces that many Ugandans have. The level of gambling that has been going on in the country is hard to find record of, but ever since it was updated in 2013 with the Lottery and Gaming Bill, things have changed.

It has become a far more regulated activity, with the Lotteries and Gambling Act of 2016 doing a lot to change how Ugandans would take part in gambling. Indeed, gambling taxes have changed over time, with the Lotteries and Gaming Act 2017 introducing a gaming tax that fell from 35% to 20%.

Betting sites Uganda

Sports betting safety and Legislation in Uganda

The legislation of all gambling that takes place within Uganda comes mainly from the National Lotteries and Gambling Authority Board. They are the primary authority on all things Ugandan gaming, and they are the ones who set out all of the licenses and all of the opportunities for people to get access to gaming that they can play.

With the majority of the betting that takes place in Uganda happening offline, due to low internet usage levels, just about all of the establishments have to follow the NLGRB regulations set out for them.

What do Ugandans like to bet on?

While sports betting is quite popular in Uganda, the vast majority of gamers in the country will instead bet on things like poker and bingo. The majority of the land-based casinos and establishments are built around those two games, with smaller helpings of many other gaming opportunities appearing.

The fact that it is not online, means that many of the major online casino brands have so far not touched the Ugandan gaming scene. For that reason, many of the gaming opportunities that you would find elsewhere in the world are not available here. That is why, for the most part, gambling and gaming in Uganda is mostly managed by local companies and land-based firms.

Ugandan bettors payment options

Again, that lack of online activity means that most of the payment options that you have here will be dealt with offline. This normally means either using a credit/debit card, but mostly cash. You can find out more about the Ugandan gaming system and the available payment options here.

However, it is important to note that since January 2019 all sports betting has been banned in Uganda. This was brought in by a government mandate, and it has stuck in place ever since. If you are looking to place a bet in Uganda, it usually has to be on either poker or bingo – and it mostly has to be done offline. Keep that in mind: the options and the availability of gambling as a whole in Uganda is very different to what you might be used to.

Ugandan gambling resources

• The Uganda National Gambling Board