Uganda Seeks Telecom and ISP Support to Curb Illegal Online Gambling

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board is calling for closer cooperation with the communications regulator, telecom operators and internet service providers as gambling activity continues to move onto digital and mobile channels.

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board is urging stronger cooperation with the Uganda Communications Commission, licensed telecom operators and internet service providers to crack down on illegal online gambling.

The call was made during a stakeholder engagement organised by the Uganda Communications Commission at UCC House. The meeting brought together representatives of the communications sector under the theme “Fostering a Culture of Compliance and Responsible Communication among Licensed Operators.”

The discussions focused on regulatory compliance in the communications sector, service quality, infrastructure development, information sharing and the role that telecom operators and internet service providers can play in identifying and disrupting unlicensed online gambling platforms.

NLGRB chief executive officer Denis Mudene said closer collaboration between the gaming regulator, the communications regulator and licensed ISPs is becoming increasingly important as gambling activity shifts towards online platforms, mobile channels and digital payment systems. Illegal gambling websites can reach consumers quickly, operate outside Uganda’s licensing framework and expose players to fraud, underage gambling risks and weak consumer protection.

The Uganda Communications Commission also used the engagement to remind licensed operators that the telecommunications industry plays a central role in digital connectivity and innovation, but must operate within regulatory requirements. For the gambling sector, that message is especially relevant because telecom networks and internet access are now part of the infrastructure through which online betting and gaming services reach users.

The talks form part of a wider effort by Ugandan authorities to modernise gambling oversight. Earlier this year, the NLGRB engaged the Uganda Revenue Authority on the National Central Electronic Monitoring System, a platform designed to monitor gaming transactions, improve reporting, strengthen transparency and support revenue mobilisation.

The Board has also worked with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards on technical standards for the gaming industry. That cooperation aims to improve fairness, consumer protection, equipment reliability, operator compliance and public confidence in the regulated market.

Together, these initiatives show that Uganda is moving toward a more technology-driven regulatory model. Instead of relying only on licensing and physical inspections, the country is building a framework based on data visibility, inter-agency cooperation and technical controls.

For licensed operators, the direction is clear: compliance will increasingly depend on the ability to meet digital monitoring, reporting and technical standards. For illegal operators, the growing cooperation between the gaming regulator, communications regulator, telecom companies and ISPs could make access to Ugandan consumers more difficult.

Uganda’s approach also reflects a wider African trend. As betting and gaming move online, regulators are increasingly recognising that gambling enforcement cannot be handled by one agency alone. Communications regulators, tax authorities, standards bodies, payment providers and network operators are becoming essential partners in protecting consumers and keeping gambling activity within the legal market.