Ugandan betting and casino operators who think they can dodge the system are in for a rude awakening.
The government is tightening the noose on the gaming industry, proposing a UGX 110 million fine for those who refuse to join the Bank of Uganda’s centralised payment system.
The strict penalties are outlined in the Tax Procedures Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which State Minister for Finance Henry Musasizi presented to Parliament.
According to the proposal, gaming operators who fail to comply will face either double the gaming or withholding tax due or a massive fine of 5,500 currency points, whichever is higher.
This means from now on, every wager, every payout, and every jackpot must pass through a government-supervised system licensed by the Bank of Uganda. And just to keep things extra tight, the system will be directly linked to URA’s electronic tax notice system.
Musasizi made it clear: No integration, no betting business.
“Operators of casinos, gaming, and betting activities must use the centralised payments gateway system. Anyone who refuses will face heavy penalties,” the Minister warned.
Government insiders say this move is designed to curb tax evasion and ensure that the billions flowing through the gaming industry don’t slip through URA’s fingers. With betting growing at a record pace in Uganda, authorities are determined to bring every shilling into the tax net.
