TLDR Uganda’s casino operators want to keep the 30% gross gaming revenue tax instead of a new 15% tax on player winnings. The tax authority says table game winnings equal chips cashed out minus chips bought per player visit. Operators say tracking each player’s final win across games would need costly new systems. The industry group estimates more than 2,500 jobs could be lost if players move to unlicensed gambling. Operators are asking for a joint technical working group to study how the tax is collected.
Casino operators in Uganda want the government to drop a new 15% tax on player winnings for land-based venues. They are asking instead to keep the existing 30% tax on gross gaming revenue, or GGR.
The request comes from the Uganda Gaming Operators Association (UGOA). The group says its concern is not about paying tax, but about how the new tax is collected.
GGR is the difference between the money players wager and the winnings paid out. Operators say this model already gives the government a clear way to collect revenue from casinos.
How the Winnings Tax Works at Casino Tables
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) explained how the 15% withholding tax applies in a public notice updated last Monday. The notice was reported by Focus Gaming News.
For casino table games, winnings are worked out as chips cashed out minus chips bought by each player during a visit. Slot machines use the same method, with cash-out less cash-in.
Online gaming winnings face a 15% withholding on net gains at every withdrawal. Sports betting operators must withhold the tax before they pay or credit winnings to customers.
Licensed operators must show the tax on player receipts or transaction records. They must also post notices telling customers about the tax.
Records must