Uganda: Casinos Drive Urban Lifestyle

A few years ago three Casinos opened with much vigour and promise but closed a few months after commencing operations.

For some of those at the higher end of income, a casino is an ideal place to pass time and do, casually, what one would normally do in their carpeted offices - meetings.

Although the casino, as is misunderstood by many people, is associated with criminal gambling activities and reveled by rogue moneyed business executives and politicians, it has in modern day business evolved into a meeting place - most times with exclusive rights to members only.

Ugandan business executives and politicians have not yet completely embraced the casino as an alternative stress-relieving form of entertainment place.

“With all the stress, that takes place in life, people have to find a way to relax. Going home after work is a release from work stress, but home life can bring stress of its own,” says Mr Steven Nyombi, a regular at Grand Casino - one of the two surviving casinos in the country. Business for casinos in Uganda is slow. Casino Simba, at Garden City, is opening its doors to the public on June 23. It will add to the existing two - Kampala Casino and Grand Casino.

Failed attempts

A few years ago three casinos opened with much vigour and promise but closed a few months after commencing operations. Royal casino closed only after three months. Paradise Casino at Hotel Equatorial and City Casino also followed a similar trend.

The fate of Ugandan casinos is typical of Uganda small and medium scale enterprise that close before their second birthday. “It is not easy to maintain a casino here, the middle class is small, yet the money used to maintain the casino is much, when gamblers win the money you have to replace it,” Mr Mohammed Twaha, the Finance Controller of Grand Casino, said. Grand Casino took precaution to fend off the challenges faced in the gambling industry. “We have always managed to bring in visitors from abroad as a way to keep the casino going,” Mr Twaha says.

According to Mr Tumay Evcimen, the Assistant General Manager of Casino Simba, the company has invested $4 millions (Shs6.7billion), which will make it the biggest casino in the country once it opens doors to the public.

It is equipped with new and advanced technological slots, 20 gaming tables, a bar and a stage on which live musical performances will be staged.

The opening of Casino Simba is not welcome news to competition that fear the already tiny clientele will be too split up for any viable profits. Kampala Casino, the oldest in the trade in Uganda sees entrants as gamblers into the business.

“We are not scared of the new casinos coming up, we have been in the business for thirteen years now, so many casinos have come and gone, my only worry is that the rich class is small,” said Mr Pal Kantayomba, the Public Relations Manager of Kampala Casino. The same concern is echoed by Mr Twaha.

“Gamblers are few; they are just a particular group of people, and there are no chances that they will increase, unless the middle class also increases,” says Mr Twaha.

The message from Casino Simba, however, is clear. “We are very prepared to begin business, people should be prepared for the best services. We have imported the latest slots, for the customers, they now only have to make their own choices, what we want is to show them what we are bringing on market,” he added.

Mr Jimmy Isingoma, a business consultant at Rwenzori Consultancy, says the tourism industry may benefit from the licensing of new casinos, but the spirit of entrepreneurship may be killed.

“Gambling is very addictive; once you start you cannot stop, and for that matter some people will be tempted to divert money from their accounts into gambling, which may increase the rate of crime and bankruptcy,” Mr Isingoma said.

Casino attraction

For the few who have been at casinos, the attraction to keep going is always live.

“Some people don’t actually know why they keep going to casinos, I think there is a power that keeps driving them” Mr Sunni Gamesh, a regular gambler at Kampala Casino said.

Casino managers know that clients are always searching for a new challenge and do not like to be disappointed, especially when they keep losing.

In order to keep clients coming casino offer complementary gifts, free chips to play with, drinks, and sometimes free meals to help their clients live through their stress of busy schedules and lose themselves into games of chance. Mr Gamesh, however, warns against addiction and irresponsibility.

“Some people are driven by company, while others want to show off as rich,” he said.

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