Uganda Casino Bonuses

Welcome Bonuses

Welcome Bonuses offer a deposit match to newly-joined players up to a certain amount. Bonus matching often ranges from 25% to 100%, while more than 100% is preferable. Bonuses tend to be offered in foreign currencies, different from the Ugandan shilling, although some operators extend their offers in the local currency. Some casino operators offer a multi-tier bonus package allowing players to take advantage of different bonus matches for their first four or five deposits. Others combine the Welcome Bonus with a particular number of free spins on select slot games.

Reload Bonuses

While Deposit Bonuses are extended to newly-registered players, Reload Bonuses are intended to keep the interest of loyal customers and incentivize them to place more wagers. They can be offered on a weekly or monthly basis, or as a limited-time offer. Usually, the percentage that Reload Bonuses match is lower than the one offered by Welcome Bonuses.

Free Spins

Free spins on slot games are yet another attractive casino bonus offer. Operators offer a particular number of free spin rounds on select slot titles from their gaming catalogs. Usually, players are supposed to complete the relevant wagering requirements attached to free spins based on the amount they win. Thus 200 free spins with a 10x wagering requirement where players have won $5 would mean they will have to complete wagering requirements of $50 before they request a cashout.

No Deposit Bonuses

Although less common than other promotions, No Deposit Bonuses are available to Ugandan players. They are particularly attractive as they entail no deposits on behalf of players. No Deposit Bonuses come in various forms – either as free spins, cash, or free bets. Depending on the casino, No Deposit Bonuses usually vary from $10 to $50.

Cashback Bonuses

By claiming a Cashback Bonus, loyal patrons of casinos can get some of the money they lost back into their accounts. A cashback is awarded either in the form of cash or credits to be used for further playing. The typical casino rebate ranges from 5% to 20% and the more players wager, the more cashback they will be eligible to receive.

General Information

Land-based gambling facilities in Uganda are licensed by the national regulator, the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board.

Despite being legal, gambling on games of chance is not particularly popular in Uganda as it is associated with a luxurious way of life that not many people can afford. The same holds true for bingo halls.

Sports betting is by far, the most popular form of gambling in Uganda. Currently, brick-and-mortar betting venues are the most viable option for placing bets due to the low Internet availability in the country. That being said, the percentage of mobile betting is on the rise in recent years.

Lottery establishments in Uganda are under state monopoly. They are available only in land-based form and there are no online operators. Since the establishment of the National Lottery in 2004, it has gained immense popularity among the population.

Gambling Legislation

The gambling industry in Uganda was governed by two major pieces of legislation – the National Lotteries Act of 1967 and the Gaming and Pool Betting Act of 1968. They made gambling and betting legal in Uganda. As a result of the attempts to further regulate the sector, the Lotteries and Gaming Act of 2016 served to combine and update both acts.

The act was enforced with several important objectives in mind:

• To reform the law pertaining to gaming, betting, lotteries, and casinos
• To establish a regulatory body, the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board
• To deliver information on the taxation of gaming and betting activities
• To repeal the former two acts related to gambling

The issuance of licenses was further reviewed in 2016. As a result, betting license fees rose to nearly $3,500 and bookmakers were banned from setting up their premises near churches, schools, and other public facilities.

In 2019, the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, ruled that the Regulatory Board would not issue new licenses or renew ones that have expired. This decision was propelled by the issue of problem gambling among the poorest citizens of the country. Ultimately, the Ugandan government has yet to find a compromise between the social consequences and tax advantages ensuing from gambling.

Regulatory Authority

The above-mentioned Lotteries and Gaming Act established the legal regulatory body of the gambling industry in Uganda, the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board.

The Board was tasked with several functions. Most importantly, it was empowered to regulate and supervise the establishment, management, and functioning of gaming and betting companies. Granting licensing to casino operators in the country is yet another essential function of the Board. It should also monitor and approve the equipment used to provide lotteries, games of chance, and betting services. Additionally, both gambling operators and gamblers in the country are taxed and the Board is in charge of collecting the applicable taxes.

In addition to its controlling functions, the Board is charged with protecting the rights of gamblers. The regulatory authority is also empowered to receive and investigate complaints relating to lotteries, betting, and gaming establishments, as well as to take proper action in resolving them.