Uganda advances gaming product classification and approval framework

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board is developing a new framework for classifying, assessing and approving gaming products before they enter the market, while strengthening staff expertise in technical standards, system testing and regulatory audits.

Uganda is moving forward with the development of a Games Classification and Approval Framework as the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) strengthens its technical oversight of an increasingly technology-driven gambling sector. The regulator confirmed on August 14 that the initiative is being developed alongside specialist training conducted with Gaming Laboratories International (GLI).

The proposed framework is intended to establish a structured and transparent process for the classification, assessment and approval of gaming products before they are introduced into Uganda’s regulated market. According to the NLGRB, the objective is to ensure that equipment, games and systems meet requirements for security, fairness and regulatory compliance before being made available to consumers.

The recent programme brought together representatives of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court, licensed gaming operators and NLGRB staff. Discussions covered gaming systems, technical product standards, testing requirements, tax compliance, enforcement, responsible gaming and player protection.

GLI provided technical expertise during the programme, while NLGRB employees received training in gaming-machine evaluation, analysis of gaming systems, interpretation of laboratory testing reports and evidence-based regulatory audits. These capabilities are expected to become increasingly important as gaming products rely more heavily on software, connected systems and digital infrastructure.

The initiative builds on earlier work between the gambling regulator and UNBS. In May, the two institutions discussed the use of internationally recognised technical standards and conformity-assessment procedures for gaming equipment and systems, including approaches associated with the World Trade Organization’s Technical Barriers to Trade framework. The discussions focused on ensuring that equipment is fair, reliable and fit for purpose while creating clearer standards for licensed operators.

For the NLGRB, the new framework is also part of a broader effort to combine licensing with stronger technical supervision. The regulator has been increasing enforcement against unauthorised gaming machines, including the seizure of 169 illegal machines during an operation in the West Nile region earlier this year. Such enforcement highlights the practical importance of being able to determine not only whether an operator is licensed but also whether the equipment being used has received appropriate regulatory approval.

The classification initiative supports the NLGRB Strategic Plan for 2025/26–2029/30, particularly its objectives around stronger regulation, responsible gaming, ICT and innovation and greater cooperation between public institutions. The Board says clearer technical standards should also support legitimate investment by giving suppliers and operators greater certainty over the requirements products must meet before they can be deployed.

The framework remains under development, and the regulator has not yet announced a final implementation date or published the complete approval procedure. However, the training and stakeholder consultations indicate that Uganda is moving toward a more formal product-certification model in which gaming machines, systems and other products face structured technical assessment before market entry. If implemented effectively, the approach could strengthen consistency in regulatory decisions, improve player protection and make technical compliance a more central part of Uganda’s gambling oversight.