Uganda Gaming Regulator Joins National Mental Health Camp to Promote Responsible Gaming

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board has taken part in a national mental health awareness initiative, using the forum to connect responsible gaming, public health and the prevention of gambling-related harm.

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board has joined the National Mental Health Awareness Camp organised by the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health, strengthening its public health approach to gambling regulation.

The two-day event, held on July 8–9, brought together lawmakers, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to discuss mental health challenges affecting Ugandans. The forum focused on awareness, stigma reduction, early intervention and stronger cooperation between public institutions and support providers.

For the gaming regulator, participation in the camp was an opportunity to highlight the connection between gambling behaviour and mental wellbeing. The Board used the platform to promote responsible gaming and underline the need to prevent problem gambling before it develops into financial distress, family conflict or broader mental health harm.

The NLGRB said responsible gaming has become a central part of its regulatory mandate. Alongside licensing, compliance and enforcement, the regulator is increasingly focusing on safer gambling practices, public education and consumer protection. This reflects a broader shift in Uganda’s gaming oversight, where player protection is becoming as important as market supervision.

The Board’s responsible gaming programme includes treatment and counselling, public awareness, education, training and research on gambling and problem gambling. It also works with institutions such as the Ministry of Health, Butabika Referral Hospital, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, banking institutions and other support partners.

The regulator has already been expanding responsible gaming outreach in different communities, including markets, transport groups and youth-focused engagements. These campaigns often encourage participants to treat gambling as entertainment, set limits and seek help if gambling creates stress, debt or loss of control.

The National Mental Health Camp gave the regulator a wider platform to position gambling harm as part of the national mental health conversation. This is important because problem gambling often remains hidden until it affects household income, employment, education or relationships. By working with health professionals and policymakers, the regulator can support earlier detection and better referral pathways.

For Uganda’s betting and gaming operators, the message is clear. Responsible gaming is no longer a secondary corporate social responsibility issue. It is becoming a core regulatory expectation, connected to compliance, consumer protection and public trust.

The initiative also shows how African regulators are increasingly treating gambling harm as a public health issue rather than only a licensing or enforcement matter. As digital betting expands and access becomes easier, regulators are under pressure to combine market growth with stronger safeguards.

Uganda’s participation in the National Mental Health Camp marks another step toward a more integrated model of gambling regulation. If the cooperation between Parliament, health professionals and the NLGRB continues, the country could build a stronger prevention framework based on education, early intervention and accessible support for people affected by gambling-related harm.