We consider positive linear operators of probabilistic type L1f acting on real functions f defined on the positive semi-axis. We deal with the problem of uniform convergence of L1f to f, both in the usual sup-norm and in a uniform Lp type of norm. In both cases, we obtain direct and converse inequalities in terms of a suitable weighted first modulus of smoothness of f. These results are applied to the Baskakov operator and to a gamma operator connected with real Laplace transforms, Poisson mixtures and Weyl fractional derivatives of Laplace transforms.