Ghana Sports Betting Laws: What You Need to Know Before Betting

Sports betting in Ghana has grown fast in the last few years, with football been the main driver. From Accra to Kumasi and even smaller towns, you will see betting shops everywhere and many people also using apps on their phone with MTN MoMo or Vodafone Cash to place bets. But what many punters don’t always know is that betting in Ghana is controlled by law, and if you don’t understand the rules you can fall into problem.

Here is a simple guide on how sports betting law works in Ghana in 2025.

Who control betting in Ghana

Betting is regulated by the Gaming Commission of Ghana (GCG). It was set up under the Gaming Act, 2006 (Act 721). This Commission gives licences to companies who want to operate betting either online or land based shops.

If a bookmaker does not have licence from the Gaming Commission, then it is illegal. Every legal operator must show licence number on their website or shop, and you can even check the Gaming Commission official website to confirm.

Legal age to bet

In Ghana, the law say you must be 18 years or older before you can gamble. Betting companies are supposed to check ID like Ghana Card, passport or driver’s licence.

From 2025, the Commission also brought biometric verification like fingerprint and face ID for betting accounts. This was introduced to stop under age betting and reduce fraud.

Licence requirement for operators

Any company that want to run betting must apply to the Gaming Commission. Some of the conditions are:

• At least 10% Ghanaian ownership in the company

• Strong financial record and tax clearance

• Secure systems to protect punter data

• Responsible gambling policy

Licence fees are also very high. Online sports betting licence is around 500,000 USD equivalent in cedis, renewal 250,000, plus yearly operational fee 150,000. Land based shops pay around 40,000 for licence and 25,000 for renewal.

Because of this, if an operator cannot show licence number, you should avoid them.

Taxes on betting in Ghana

Taxes on betting keep changing. In 2023 government introduced 20% tax on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) which is paid by betting companies.

Also there was 10% withholding tax on winnings, but this has been cancelled in April 2025 under the Income Tax Amendment Act (Act 1129). So now punters don’t pay tax on winnings anymore, but companies still pay tax on their revenue.

If a betting site still deduct money from your winnings as tax, you should question it.

Payments and withdrawals

In Ghana, the main way to pay and cash out is through mobile money. The most common are:

• MTN MoMo

• Vodafone Cash

• AirtelTigo Money

Deposit usually go through quickly, sometimes instantly. Withdrawal also does not take long if the betting site is licensed. It is always better to test with small amount first before staking big.

Never send money to a personal number, only to the official company wallet that the app show you.

Advertising and responsible gambling

Betting adverts in Ghana are also controlled by the Commission. The rules say adverts should not:

• Target people under 18

• Suggest betting is the only way to make money

• Leave out warning about responsible gambling

All legal operators must also provide things like deposit limit, self exclusion and customer support to help people who might have gambling problem.

Betting shops location

From 2025 the Commission also started to regulate where betting shops can operate. Shops are not supposed to be too close to schools, churches or mosques. Breaking this rule can make a company lose their licence.

What to check before you bet

• Is the site licensed by Gaming Commission of Ghana?

• Are you 18 years or older with ID?

• Do they use MoMo, Vodafone Cash or AirtelTigo Money?

• Do they show their licence number openly?

• Do adverts have responsible gambling warning?

Final word

Sports betting in Ghana is legal, but only if you use companies licensed by the Gaming Commission of Ghana. In 2025 the law is stricter, biometric ID checks are now in place, winnings tax is removed, and betting shops are being controlled more.

For punters, the main point is simple: choose licensed bookmaker, use mobile money for safe payments, and understand the rules before you play. That way you enjoy betting without falling for scams.