Top 5 Casinos in Kampala, Uganda

A 15-minute walk from Garden City, one of the biggest shopping malls in Kampala, sits The Taj Mahal Hotel & Casino. It’s also just a 10-minute drive from the center of the city. But you don’t really care about the hotel, do you? No, you want to know about its main attraction – the casino! Sadly, if you’re looking for a super-professional environment, you won’t really find it here. While having proper tables and everything, the casino has a bit of a “homemade” kind of feel. That’s somewhat appropriate for the hotel setting, but it probably won’t appeal to hardcore gamblers all that much.

With that said, though, the casino does offer a pretty wide variety of games, including blackjack, pontoon, roulette, and Texas Hold’em. The absence of slots is a bit jarring, but pretty much all other bases are hit. Ultimately, this casino wasn’t meant to make millions. It’s a nice addition to what appears to be a wonderful hotel, and on that front, it’s more than acceptable.

Simba is actually one of the most popular casinos in Kampala. We do, though, have a good reason why we place it so low on the list. It’s located in the aforementioned Garden City and is easily recognizable by its large, neon sign. Simba actually has quite a lot of games. It provides a variety of slots, alongside all the standard table games, such as roulette, blackjack, pontoon, and several types of poker. Seems like it’s got everything a gambler can want, right? Well… We had a few issues with it.

One of them is the regular, and quite blatantly advertised, “live nights” with dancing Russian girls. Combined with the short dresses female dealers need to wear, it’s quite obvious this casino is designed specifically to pander to males. In addition, we’ve heard some pretty bad things about the management and how the casino is being run. The fact that a lot of its dealers tend to quit should tell you something. Still, despite all this (or maybe because of it), Simba still remains almost synonymous with the word “casino” in Uganda. That should really tell you something. And hey, if you’re a guy who likes to look at attractive Russian girls while gambling (like about 98% of guys), you’re in luck. You’ll find plenty to like here!

Themed after the Sphinx and Pyramids of Ancient Egypt, Pyramids Casino is hard to miss. That already gives it a whole lot of bonus points in my book. I absolutely adore themed casinos, and it seems like Pyramids have definitely done their homework! In Ancient Egypt, the pyramids were used as tombs for kings. They were filled with treasure and riches for the king’s afterlife, or for anyone brave or stupid enough to rob them.

Similarly, Pyramids Casino is rather posh, obviously passing itself off as a high-class venue for the ‘kings’ of gambling! They offer dozens upon dozens of slots and pretty much every popular table game, including regular poker tournaments. On top of that, they also offer a terrace bar and a restaurant for when you need a drink or a bite between games. We haven’t personally tasted their food, but they claim to offer “the finest gourmet dining in East Africa”. And you know what – from what I’ve seen from the casino, I’m rather inclined to believe them!

Part of the bigger Mayfair group, which also includes two casinos in Nairobi and a restaurant in Kampala. That’s the pedigree behind The Mayfair Casino Kampala. It’s located at Kisozi Close near Nakasero and, just like Pyramids, has a rather high-class atmosphere. Its main room is rather large, well-furnished, and spotting fancy domed ceilings. As their website describe them, the looks are a mix between “European, Oriental and African decorative elements [that] are blended together”. Fancy!

Still, don’t let the looks deter you – everyone’s welcome in Mayfair, even if they’re not wearing formal attire. And this is certainly a casino that you’d want to visit regardless of what you’re wearing. They offer American roulette, blackjack, pontoon, Texas Hold’em, Bingo, and multiple slots and video machines. Complimentary drinks and food, mostly pizza and ice cream, are included for players. Add to that the fact that all dealers are extremely friendly and talkative and you’ve got one really great choice!

Pyramids Casino’s big sister is Casino Kampala, and boy does it show! You get the same posh, yet approachable interior, and the same good food – who can ever say no to an African buffet? There’s also the same wonderful experience, combined with some of the most experienced and friendly dealers you’ll ever find in Kampala. Being the first Ugandan casino, Kampala knows how to find talent and nurture it. It trains its staff to provide gamblers with a relaxed, yet also very rich, casino experience.

They offer all the games that other casinos have combined. They also one-up them by providing completely free food and non-alcoholic beverages to customers. While it is true that the chips and some of the furniture do look a little bit aged, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you ask us, it only contributes to the charm. Casino Kampala isn’t trying to hide its age – it’s proud of it. Just like fine wine, this venue has aged unbelievably well!