At the inaugural iGaming Africa Summit, Denis Mudene, CEO of Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB), issued a call for urgent regional collaboration to combat unlicensed offshore operators.
Mudene proposed the formal creation of an East African Gaming Regulators Forum to harmonize responsible gaming standards and close cross-border enforcement gaps.
A Market Without Borders
The rise of digital and mobile gaming has allowed illegal operators to exploit regulatory loopholes across jurisdictions.
“The market is no longer confined within borders. Without coordination, illegal operators will continue to exploit regulatory gaps,” Mudene warned during a panel including representatives from Kenya and Nigeria.
The NLGRB has already intensified local enforcement through Operation Mashine Haramu, which resulted in the seizure of over 7,000 illegal machines and the shutdown of 20 unlicensed websites. Mudene clarified that illegal operations are not just a regulatory hurdle, but a consumer protection crisis that deprives governments of vital tax revenue.
Practical Safeguards and Mandatory Requirements
The iGaming Africa Summit highlighted a shift toward making responsible gaming a mandatory operational requirement. Under Uganda’s Responsible Gaming Directives 2025, operators must now embed practical safeguards, including self-exclusion and deposit limits, directly into their daily business models. Mudene emphasized that “Responsible gaming must move from being a policy statement to a practical requirement” to build a sustainable African gaming industry.
