Uganda Ministry of Finance has announced a series of significant Gaming tax reform targeting the casino, sports betting, and broader gaming industries, aimed at strengthening compliance, improving revenue collection, and enhancing transparency within the sector.

Speaking on the reforms, Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, outlined strict penalties for operators who fail to comply with the new regulatory framework, particularly those who are not integrated into the gaming and betting centralized payments gateway system.

Under the new measures, any operator of a casino, gaming, or betting activity who does not use or integrate with the centralised payments gateway system will be liable to a penal tax equivalent to either double the gaming or withholding tax due, or 5,500 currency points—whichever is higher.

The Ministry stated that the reforms are designed to ensure full accountability within the sector, close revenue leakages, and promote fair competition among licensed operators. The integration of a centralised payments system is expected to improve monitoring of transactions and strengthen tax enforcement mechanisms.

Officials further emphasized that compliance with the new framework will be mandatory for all operators within the gaming ecosystem, with strict enforcement measures in place for defaulters. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to modernizing tax administration in high-growth sectors, while ensuring that industry participants operate within a transparent and well-regulated environment.