Online gambling is a popular activity in Ghana. It is estimated that at least 30 million Ghanaians aged between 19 to 34 have participated in gambling in one form or the other.
The net gaming revenue (NGR) stands at approximately 3.5 USD, with the government raking in 17.5% of that in taxes. These numbers mean something to the economy of Ghana and a regulatory framework has been established by the government. In this article, we will tell you the history and the current laws that regulate gambling in Ghana.
Technological advancement has enhanced the penetration of Ghana’s local and international betting companies. With the use of a mobile phone, you can access betting apps or websites with more convenience. Since betting is one of the country’s fast and rising money-related activities, there ought to be laws that govern gambling to ensure that populations are protected against fraudulent operators, irresponsible gambling, and manipulation.
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The History of Gambling Laws in Ghana
Gambling laws have not always been available in Ghana; however, in 1960, the Lotto and Betting Act 94 was passed into law to start a lottery in Ghana to raise revenue to support the country’s development.
In 1962, the lottery held its first draw to finance various infrastructure projects. In 1973, lawmakers implemented the Gambling Machines Act, permitting gambling machines and table games in the country.
Later in 1975, the Casino Licensing Act intervened in the casino sector and started regulating casino games. In 2006, the Gaming Act 2006 (Act 721) was implemented and has since played a critical part in regulating the activities of the growing online betting sector. The betting regulations might be friendly, as this is evident with the number of betting sites flooding the betting market in Ghana today.
The Appropriate Age for Gambling in Ghana
In Ghana, gambling is limited to people aged 18 and over. Bettors should provide proof of their eligibility before creating accounts and joining betting platforms.
The legal documents that individuals should provide as proof include a national ID, a birth certificate, and a driving license. Nonetheless, advertisements are not restricted to the target audiences, as anyone of any age can access them on various media platforms. There are calls for the government to regulate advertisements to target appropriate personnel.
Laws for Online Sports Betting
The 2006 Gambling Act legalised Ghana’s online sports betting, attracting many betting companies. The country has since accommodated numerous betting firms; both created locally and internationally. Gamblers eligible to bet can explore any sporting activity and wager on them.
The law does not mandate companies to exercise responsible betting; therefore, gamblers are under operators’ mercy to regulate their betting and determine the limits for deposits. Furthermore, bettors should also examine the operator to determine their validity because the law is somewhat complacent in this area.
Laws for Online Casinos
Ghana has had a long history of prohibiting casino games since independence. However, in 1973, players could start gambling in casinos because parliament enacted the Gambling Machines Decree to enable land-based gaming.
In 1975, stricter laws were enacted to regulate gambling under the Casino Licensing Decree. However, the introduction of technology in the country spearheaded the establishment and embracement of online casino gaming.
Ghana needed a new regulation to ensure the safety of gamblers and the smooth operations of betting companies embracing technology to provide gambling services. The 2006 Gambling Act, therefore, provided more freedom and flexibility to operators providing casino games. Today, this law has permitted Ghanaians to join betting companies and play casino games online with more ease.
Laws for Online Bingo
Despite various operators having bingo in their betting platforms, the online gaming sport does not have a specific law or regulation governing its involvement in the gambling market in Ghana.
Authorities have not explicitly elaborated the laws that permit or inhibit bingo games; therefore, Ghanaians play without any regulations. Since there are no restrictions to playing bingo, people can join different platforms and play international bingo games. Bettors are attracted to bingo games by the numerous ads and promotions surrounding the game, encouraging people to try their luck and win.
Laws for Lotteries
Lotteries have existed in Ghana’s gambling market for a long time; however, there were no laws governing lottery games until 2006. That year, lawmakers enacted Act 772, which mandated the establishment of the National Lottery Authority to oversee lottery games in the country and prevent malicious practices. This regulation has therefore mitigated potential irregularities and paved the way for lotto companies to champion social responsibility.
Laws for Poker
Poker games are very popular in the country. Many people like to play card games; therefore, its availability on online gaming platforms has attracted many Ghanaians to try their luck and win big prizes.
Nonetheless, there are no specific regulations governing online poker games in Ghana; therefore, online or video poker games are played based on the credibility of the betting site. This instance does not eliminate the risk of fraudulent activity or being scammed by malicious parties.
