Ghana wants to become Africa’s model for responsible gambling
Ghana is stepping up efforts to tighten gambling regulation as online betting grows across Africa. The country’s Gaming Commission says it is focusing on responsible gambling, stronger compliance systems and digital monitoring tools to manage the rapid expansion of the sector.
Speaking exclusively to SiGMA News, James Enu, Chairman of the Gaming Commission of Ghana and Member of Parliament Tema West, said responsible gambling remains a major priority for the regulator.
“Responsible gambling is our slogan in Ghana,” Enu said.
The move comes as international betting operators increase investment in African markets and regulators face rising concerns about gambling addiction, fraud and underage betting. Ghana’s authorities are now positioning the country as a regulated and technology-driven gaming market with stronger player protection measures.
Ghana tightens gambling controls
Ghana’s gaming industry operates under the Gaming Act, 2006, which sets licensing and ownership requirements for operators. According to Enu, fully foreign-owned companies cannot receive a gaming licence in Ghana without local participation.
“You need to partner with a local,” he said. “It’s either a fully locally-owned entity or an entity that is half-owned by locals and foreigners.”
Enu said the Commission also carries out extensive due diligence checks on shareholders and company owners before licences are approved. The process includes financial background checks and integrity assessments to reduce risks linked to money laundering and illicit financial activity.
The regulator says it is trying to balance compliance enforcement with industry growth. Enu stated that the Commission works directly with applicants during the licensing process instead of rejecting companies that fail to meet initial documentation requirements.
“We will engage you, we’ll dialogue with you, we’ll support you,” he said.
Digital verification becomes central focus
Ghana has recently introduced stricter digital compliance measures for licensed operators. In 2025, the Gaming Commission mandated biometric verification for all gambling transactions across online betting platforms, casinos and betting shops. Operators must now integrate systems with Ghana’s national identification database and verify players through fingerprint or facial recognition.
The Commission said the measures are designed to prevent underage gambling, reduce fraud and strengthen responsible gambling controls. Operators that fail to comply risk licence suspension or non-renewal.
Industry analysts say Ghana’s approach reflects a wider trend across African gambling markets, where regulators are introducing tighter monitoring systems as mobile betting activity increases.
International operators are also expanding into Ghana’s regulated market. Earlier this year, Kaizen Gaming launched its Betano platform in Ghana, describing the country as its 20th regulated market globally.
The company said Ghana offers “strong long-term potential” with an increasingly digital population and a structured regulatory environment.
Commission plans shared player database
One of the Commission’s next priorities is the creation of a shared industry database to strengthen self-exclusion controls and responsible gambling systems.
Enu said regulators identified gaps during recent casino inspections. He described a case involving a player who had voluntarily placed himself on a self-ban list at one casino but was later allowed to gamble at another venue because operators did not share information.
“There was a gentleman who was under self-ban, but he went into a different casino,” Enu said. “The casino couldn’t detect that he was on self-ban.”
According to Enu, the player later complained after losing money and argued he should not have been allowed to gamble.
The Commission now wants operators to access a common platform that can identify banned or vulnerable players across all licensed gaming venues.
“We want to build a system where we can have easy access to information and intelligence in the industry,” Enu said.
Responsible gambling measures expand
The Gaming Commission says it is also investing in community support and addiction recovery systems. Enu said authorities are developing social support centres where people with gambling addiction can receive counselling and guidance.
The centres are expected to expand across Ghana’s regions as part of a broader responsible gambling programme.
The regulator is also supporting community projects and skills training programmes in areas affected by gambling activity.
Across Africa, governments and regulators are facing increasing pressure to respond to the social impact of sports betting and online gambling. Online discussions in Ghana and South Africa show growing public debate around gambling addiction, youth betting and industry taxation.
At the same time, Africa’s betting market continues to attract investment because of high mobile phone usage, expanding digital payments and growing interest in online sports betting.
Ghana’s regulators say the focus now is to ensure industry growth is matched by stronger safeguards and modern oversight systems.
“As much as you want everybody to comply with the conditions, it’s also important that the industry can grow,” Enu said.
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