Is Betting Legal in Ghana? The Gaming Act, Licensed Operators, Tax and Offshore Sites Explained

Updated October 2026 · By the BetGhanaHub team

Short answer, charley: yes, betting is legal in Ghana, as long as the operator holds a licence from the Gaming Commission of Ghana and you are 18 or older. The grey area is offshore sites, and that's where most of the confusion comes from. Let me break it all down so you know exactly where you stand.

I'm not a lawyer and this isn't legal advice. It's a plain-language summary of the main laws and official statements, with sources, so you can make your own informed decision.

The law that governs betting: the Gaming Act, 2006 (Act 721)

Games of chance in Ghana, including sports betting, casinos and slot machines, are governed by the Gaming Act, 2006 (Act 721). The Act set up the Gaming Commission of Ghana as the body that regulates, controls, monitors and supervises the operation of games of chance in the country. If a company wants to run sports betting or a casino for Ghanaians legally, it needs a licence from the Commission.

Lotteries sit in a separate lane. The National Lottery Authority (NLA) oversees lotto under its own law, which is why you'll see lotto and sports betting discussed differently in Ghanaian news.

So is it legal for me, as a player?

Placing a bet with a licensed Ghanaian operator, as an adult, is legal. That covers the betting companies you see in shopping centres in Accra and Kumasi, as long as they hold a current licence. The minimum age is 18, and licensed operators are required to verify age before letting you bet.

The Commission regularly reminds the public that it only protects players who use licensed operators. If you have a dispute with a licensed company, for example it refuses to pay a winning slip, you can take a complaint to the Commission. That is a real benefit of playing local.

How to check if a betting company is licensed

1. Look on the operator's website or app footer for its Gaming Commission licence details.
2. Cross-check with the Gaming Commission of Ghana's own website, which lists licensed operators. Our guide to registered betting companies in Ghana walks you through it.
3. If you're unsure, call the Commission. Its contact page lists a toll-free number (0800 454 545) and (027) 469 8935, with regional offices in Kasoa, Kumasi (Ahodwo) and Tamale.

Be careful with lookalike names. Scammers sometimes copy the branding of real companies on social media and ask you to "deposit" to a personal MoMo number. A licensed operator will never ask you to send money to an individual's wallet.

What about offshore sites like Cloudbet and BetUS?

This is the honest part. Offshore operators, such as Cloudbet (licensed in Curaçao) and BetUS, VegasAces and SlotsParadise (offshore brands that accept Ghanaian players for crypto only), are not licensed by the Gaming Commission of Ghana. That has some important consequences:

• No local complaint route. If something goes wrong, the Gaming Commission can't step in. You rely on the operator's own support and its home licensing arrangements.
• No local payment channels. You generally can't fund these accounts with MoMo directly. Players use cryptocurrency instead, usually bought with cedis on a peer-to-peer (P2P) market.
• Enforcement focus is on operators. In public statements, the Commission's focus has been on illegal operators, unlicensed shops and advertising. We are not aware of a Ghanaian law that targets individual adults for placing bets with an offshore site, but that's not the same as saying it's officially approved. It isn't.

So the fair way to describe it is: betting with a Gaming Commission licensee is clearly legal; betting with an offshore site is unlicensed in Ghana and comes with fewer protections. If you choose offshore, do it with your eyes open, keep balances small and withdraw often.

What happened to the 10% betting tax?

In August 2023, an amendment to the Income Tax Act (Act 1094) introduced a 20% tax on operators' gross gaming revenue and a 10% withholding tax on players' winnings. That 10% "betting tax" was very unpopular with punters.

In the 2025 Budget Statement presented on 11 March 2025, the Finance Minister announced the abolition of the betting tax. Parliament then passed the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1129), and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) confirmed that the 10% withholding tax on winnings from lotteries, betting, gaming and similar games of chance ended on 2 April 2025. Players charged the withholding tax on winnings paid on or after that date are entitled to a refund from the operator, according to the GRA.

Two things to keep in mind:

• The 20% tax on operators' gross gaming revenue still applies to licensed companies.
• The GRA said that winnings should still be reported as part of annual income tax filings and may be taxed at normal income tax rates depending on their size. If you have large winnings, speak to a tax professional.

Our separate guide to sports betting tax in Ghana goes into more detail.

Advertising and age rules

Licensed operators must follow advertising rules, including not targeting minors, and the Commission has publicly cautioned against presenting gambling as a way to make money. You'll see warnings like "18+" and "bet responsibly" on licensed ads. If you see betting adverts aimed at schoolchildren, report them to the Commission.

On our side, everything on BetGhanaHub is strictly for adults, and we label sponsored links clearly.

Local licensed vs offshore: a side-by-side view

Why some Ghanaians still choose offshore crypto books

People who use offshore sites usually give the same reasons: wider international markets, higher limits, crypto-native deposits and withdrawals, and sometimes better odds on European football. Those can be real advantages. They don't cancel out the missing local protection, which is why I'd never put money you can't afford to lose on any site, local or offshore.

If you do go offshore, three habits help a lot: verify your account early, keep a written record of every deposit and withdrawal in cedis, and never leave a large balance sitting on the site.

Common myths, cleared up

"Betting is illegal in Ghana"

Not true. It's legal through licensed operators. What's illegal is running unlicensed gaming for Ghanaians.

"There's still a 10% tax on my winnings"

The withholding tax was abolished from 2 April 2025. If a licensed operator is still deducting it, ask them why and mention the GRA's statement.

"Offshore sites are licensed in Ghana because they accept Ghanaians"

Accepting players isn't the same as being licensed. Check the Commission's list.

"Under-18s can bet with a parent's account"

No. Using an adult's account for a minor breaks operator rules and the law's age requirement, and it can get the account closed and winnings voided.

Where to get help

If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, call the Mental Health Authority's toll-free line on 0800 678 678. For self-exclusion with licensed operators, contact the Gaming Commission on 0800 454 545.

Bottom line

Betting is legal in Ghana with a Gaming Commission licensee, for adults only. The betting tax on winnings has been gone since April 2025, though large winnings still belong in your income tax return. Offshore crypto sites aren't licensed in Ghana, so they're a personal-risk decision with fewer protections. Know which kind of site you're using, play with money you can afford to lose, and keep it fun.