Parliament Proposes Total Ban On Sports Betting During Day

The parliamentary committee on Finance has suggested that government considers banning sports betting during the day. This will apparently be a measure of encouraging creativity and productivity among the population.

Mr Enos Asiimwe (Kabula County MP) yesterday suggested that they permit the activity only after working hours. He made the suggestion while interfacing with the Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (LGRB).

“Why don’t you initiate the changes in the regulations? We can change the time to 5pm, after working hours. This is to make the youth more productive because you find people engaged in gaming as early as 10am,” Mr Asiimwe said.

The acting chief executive officer of LGRB, Mr Denis Ngabirano in response welcomed the suggestion. He added that they are planning a raft of regulations to address challenges affecting the sector.

“We have quite a number of amendments and new regulations we are putting in place. Time is one of the issues that we want to amend. However, as you realize, most gaming activities are migrating online, actually, 60 percent of the gaming activities are online, so basically, the time will affect majorly casinos,” Mr Ngabirano said.

The MPs advised the betting regulator to seek expertise on digital-related matters from the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC).

However, some other MPs rejected the proposal.

Ms. Jane Pacutho, the Woman MP for Pakwach District, expressed fear that in case of sports betting time change, some men would not have time for their families after work.

She wondered how people would start doing things from 7:00pm to 2:00 am. She said this would only cause domestic violence.

The gaming regulator, who presented its policy statement before the same committee, made a budgetary request of Shs2 billion.

He said this would cater for the introduction of an electronic monitoring system that will, among others, close gaps exploited by illicit gamblers.

According to Mr. Ngabirano, once approved, the system will save revenue losses incurred through the illegal practice and thus boost the revenue of the country.

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