1. Keeping up to date with the Ugandan law
Edgar Agaba
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
National Gaming Board Uganda

2. Introduction
The National Gaming Board (NGB) is a body corporate established under the Lotteries and Gaming Act No. 7 of 2016 to;
license
supervise
regulate the establishment, management and operation of lotteries, gaming, betting and casinos in Uganda,
to protect the citizens from adverse effects of gaming and betting in Uganda.

3. Since the coming into force of the Act a number of changes have been adopted as a measures of improving the gaming sector in Uganda.
As regulator legal(legal regime amendments ), economic (fees amendments to improve local revenue)and social strategies(CSR and Ugandans involvement in the gaming sector) have been employed
The following are the different measures the national gaming board has put in place in an effort of better streamlining the industry.

4. Introduction of standards for equipment
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards with support from the National Gaming Board has come up with standards for gaming machines and software these are ;
Gaming Equipment-Limited Payout- Requirements (US1580-2:2017)
Gaming Equipment-Casino- Requirements (US :2017)

5. The following standards are currently being reviewed by the standards committee
Wagering record keeping software
Monitoring control systems
Tokenization
Local area and wide area jackpot
Information and operation security

6. Introduction of testing and certification of equipment
As required under section 37(3) of the Lotteries and Gaming Act a testing lab (BMM)was prequalified to carryout testing of all machines in Uganda against the approved gaming standards in Uganda as mentioned above. This shall commence July 2018

7. Legal regime amendment
The National Gaming Board is introducing specific online gaming regulations. These are to commence operation in the financial year 2018/19.
Registration of players using the mobile number and KYC information.
We have also introduced local content regulations. We derive this from a Government policy Buy Uganda Build Uganda(BUBU).Under these regulations we recommend a percentange of Ugandan shareholding in an operator shareholding.

8. Board directives
The Board of Directors of the National Gaming Board has gazzeted some areas as no gaming zones these include Wandegeya, Kamwokya Market , Nakawa, Bugolobi Market.
The Board has also passed on enforcement sanctions that put punitive measures on non compliance. These are;(these await gazzeting under the law)

9. Permanent Closure of premises and prosecution of Directors
Compliance Issue
Sanction 1
Unlicensed operation
Permanent Closure of premises and prosecution of Directors 2
Operation of illegal branches
Permanent closure 3
Allowing Access to Minors
Closure of premises pending suspension proceedings 4
Illegal Breaking of Seals of the Board
Permanent closure of premises and revocation of license 5
Absence of Security
Closure of premises pending suspension proceedings 6
Screens facing the road

10. 7
Absence of safe / strong room
caution on first instance and closure on second instance pending suspension proceedings 8
Failure of payment of winnings
Evoke the security guarantee and automatic suspension proceedings of the licensee. 9
Undeclared equipment
confiscation of equipment and suspension branch license 10
Not filling Board returns
caution on first instance and suspension of license on second instance 11
Non Compliance of Advertisements and Branding
caution first instance and suspension of license on second instance 12
Repeated breach of licensing conditions
Revocation of main license 13
Failure to implement licensing conditions in the request for applications 2018
Caution first instance , suspension proceedings on second instance, revocation of license

11. Amendments
Through the ministry of finance planning and economic development the lotteries and gaming amendment bill 2018 has been drafted with the following proposals;
A minor as a person below 18 years
Powers of the Board
Seize confiscated equipment or devices without recourse of courts of law
To enter search any premises without warrant
Direct closure of any non compliant gaming or betting premises
Levy and collect express fines as maybe prescribed by regulations made by the minister

12. Repealing section 15(b) on funds of the that requires a 1% annual turnover of operators to be collected by the Board
Introduction of a certificate of suitability of premises to be used by casino or for other gaming and betting operations
The Board shall approve franchisees
Introduction of due diligence costs on the applicant for license
Withholding tax of 15% of total payout has been introduced.
Timeframe for processing an application from 21 days to 60 days

13. Responsible gaming
We shall partner with operators to set up a Responsible Gaming Foundation to undertake this activity
We are partnering with an NGO to sensitize the public on the effects of irresponsible gaming
Sensitizing operators on the modalities of the Responsible Gaming Foundation

14. Research
The National Gaming Board intends to carryout research on the gaming sector in an effort of better streamline it.
Areas to be researched upon include
Number of premises
Advertising of operators
Registration of punters

15. Corporate Social Responsibility
We have contributed over 90 million towards the development of the country so far but we do encourage operators to give more back to the communities in which they operate and our target is to contribute CSR worth 200 million in different activities
We shall annually review each respective CSR to ensure positive results from each operator

16. Strategic plan
We are in process of developing a strategic plan document that will give the Board a trajectory on where and how it will better manage/ regulate the gaming sector in Uganda.
We have partnerships with the Financial Intelligence Authority, National Bureau of Standards and Immigrations
We intend to enter into agreements with telecom providers

17. Conclusion
Worldwide all gaming regulators have only done an effective job only if they have a partnership with all the stakeholders in the sector. I would like to encourage a continued partnership that will help improve the gaming sector for the benefit of both the operator and government.