Uganda's gaming regulator has confirmed that Bet1Cent will stop taking bets in the country on 31 December 2026. If you hold an account, you have until that date to take your money out and close any open tickets.
The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) published the public notice on Thursday 29 October 2026. It says Geefy Entertainment SMC Limited, the licensed company behind the Bet1Cent brand in Uganda, has formally notified the Board that it is ending its general betting operations.
What the notice says
The Board issued it under Section 4(j) of the Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap. 334, the provision covering market governance, legal compliance and public protection.
The regulator is doing two things at once here. It is putting the exit on the public record, and it is fixing a deadline so that bettors, business partners and suppliers are not caught out on the day the platform goes dark.
What account holders should do before the deadline
- Withdraw any balance sitting in your Bet1Cent account.
- Settle pending tickets rather than leaving bets running past 31 December.
- Reconcile anything outstanding in either direction, including unpaid claims.
If something is not resolved, the NLGRB has given a direct route. Complaints can go to the Board at info@lgrb.go.ug or on its helpline, 0800 285 800.
Why an orderly exit is the point
Operators leave markets for ordinary commercial reasons, and an exit is not in itself a scandal. What separates a clean withdrawal from a damaging one is whether players get their balances back before the lights go off.
By publishing a dated notice with a named contact, the Board has made the exit checkable. Any bettor who is left short now has a documented deadline and a regulator to point to, which is a materially stronger position than finding a dead app and no explanation.
A busy month for the regulator
The notice lands at the end of a conspicuously active month for the NLGRB. The same Board confiscated more than 370 illegal gaming machines during October under its #OperationMashineHaramu campaign, working with the Uganda Police Force.
Read together, the two actions show a regulator working both ends of the same problem: pushing unlicensed machines out of the market, and making sure licensed operators leave through the front door.
Frequently asked questions
When does Bet1Cent stop operating in Uganda?
On 31 December 2026. That is the effective date given in the NLGRB public notice for the end of general betting operations.
Will I lose money left in my Bet1Cent account?
The regulator's instruction is to finalise all transactions before the deadline, which includes withdrawing balances and settling claims. If you cannot resolve something with the operator, take it to the NLGRB.
Who is Geefy Entertainment SMC Limited?
It is the licensed company that runs Bet1Cent in Uganda, and the entity that notified the Board of the decision to exit.
Does this affect Bet1Cent in other countries?
The notice covers Uganda only. It says nothing about the brand's operations in any other market.
