NLGRB, Butabika Hospital Take Responsible Gaming Campaign to Entebbe Traders

The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB), in partnership with Butabika Hospital, has extended its responsible gaming awareness campaign to traders in Entebbe Municipality, as part of ongoing efforts to address the growing impact of betting and gambling in communities.

The outreach, held earlier this week, brought together market vendors, shop operators, and boda boda riders for a sensitization session focused on the risks of gambling addiction and the importance of betting responsibly.

Focus on Mental Health and Financial DisciplineHealth professionals from Butabika Hospital educated participants on the psychological effects of gambling addiction, including anxiety, depression, and financial distress.

They emphasized the need for early intervention and encouraged individuals struggling with compulsive betting to seek professional help.

Officials from NLGRB highlighted the regulatory body’s mandate to ensure that gaming activities in Uganda are conducted in a fair, transparent, and socially responsible manner.

They warned against underage gambling and urged traders to avoid using business capital for betting.

“Gaming should strictly be for entertainment, not a source of livelihood,” one of the facilitators noted during the session.

Traders Share ConcernsSome traders in attendance expressed concern over the increasing number of betting shops in trading centers, saying the trend has affected productivity and household incomes.

“We have seen fellow traders lose rent and school fees because of betting,” one participant shared during the open discussion.

The campaign also provided informational materials outlining signs of gambling addiction and available counseling services at Butabika Hospital.

Ongoing National Drive The Entebbe engagement is part of a broader nationwide responsible gaming drive by NLGRB aimed at promoting awareness across different communities, including youth groups, transport operators, and market associations.

Officials said similar outreach programs will continue in other districts to ensure that gaming remains a regulated entertainment activity rather than a social and economic burden.

The initiative underscores growing concern among regulators and health experts about the social consequences of gambling, particularly in urban and peri-urban centers.