The Best Online Gambling Sites in Ghana

Ghana’s gambling market is loaded with some amazing international gaming sites with high reputations, so choosing which site to sign up with can be difficult. On this Ghanaian online gambling sites guide, we have recommended the best online casinos and sportsbooks with top games, betting products, and promotions. Find the best Ghanaian online casinos and sportsbooks for 2024 below.

Jessica Whitehouse, Editor at online-gambling.com

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Jessica Whitehouse is among the professional online-gambling.com editors in charge of ensuring that our readers get the best and most reliable news and details from the online gambling world. Her focus is on blackjack and roulette reviews, lottery, and more.

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Legal Gambling Options in Ghana

Ghana has long been at the forefront of gambling tolerance. For decades, most forms of gambling have been legalized, although it wasn’t until 2006 that lawmakers in the country paved the way for a broader, regulated online gaming market. In addition to a diverse land-based gambling market, players can enjoy online casino games, poker, sports betting, the lottery, daily fantasy sports and more.

Online Casinos

Online casino gambling is popular in Ghana, and locals are free to play at international casinos and local online casinos alike as long as they have earned a license from a respected gaming regulator. There is a huge range of gaming options that players can enjoy at Ghana’s online casinos. The most popular games are video slots, which are loved for their endless variants and themes. Virtual table games such as blackjack and roulette are also popular and are favoured due to their higher payout rates. For those seeking a more realistic experience, many top Ghanaian online casinos also host live casino games. Find the top Ghana online casino offer below.

Sports Betting

With more than 20 licensed sportsbooks to choose from, Ghanaian players have a tough decision in trying to choose which sports betting site to sign up with. This is made even more difficult by the fact that there are no restrictions on sports bets types in the country, meaning that all websites are offered with their complete features. This is great news for Ghana’s sports lovers, who tend to be most drawn to football, tennis, and boxing matches to place wagers. We suggest taking advantage of the high-quality live betting and live streaming features at our recommended site below for the most thrilling sports betting experience.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Ghana doesn’t have any specific legislation referring to daily fantasy sports (DFS), meaning that it is completely legal. Recent years have seen the activity explode in popularity among Ghana’s sports-loving population due to the competitive, skill-based nature of DFS competitions. If you are yet to try DFS out, the aim is to compete against a pool of contestants in order to score the most points each week. To earn points, contestants draft teams of players from sports leagues and earn based on the real-life performances of their chosen players that week. Entrance costs a small fee and the winners of each round win from the entrance pool. See our top DFS offer below.

Online Poker

Land-based poker is quite popular at Accra’s land-based gaming establishments, so it’s no wonder why online poker tends to draw a large crowd among Ghana’s gambling professionals. Players are free to play both video poker and online poker. The difference between the two is that video poker pits players against computers, while online poker sees players compete against real-life players in games such as Omaha, Stud and Texas Hold’em. Many successful players have been made from online poker, but this doesn’t mean to suggest that the games are easy. There is plenty of skill involved with being a top online poker player, and it takes a lot of practice. For the best site to hone your skills, check out our Ghanaian top poker site below.

Online Lottery

Introduced in 1958, the lottery is the oldest and most popular form of gambling activity in Ghana. It has long helped the country develop much-needed infrastructure since Ghana declared independence, and a large portion of Ghanaians participate in daily and weekly lotto draws. For those looking for more diverse lottery options that can be bought conveniently while on the go, we have recommended a top online lotto site below. Here, you can play everything from Ghanaian draws to international mega-jackpot games, bingo and digital scratch cards. It’s the lottery lovers’ dream.

Extensive Guide to Online Gambling in Ghana

Before you make your final decision about which gambling site is best for you, we recommend you take some time to read our guide on how to spot a top gambling site in Ghana. We’ve covered a diverse range of important topics, from how to guarantee the safety and fairness of a site to what to look for in the games and bonus offers. If you wish, you can jump to the area that interests you the most with the links below, or simply keep scrolling to form a comprehensive understanding to find the best gambling sites.

The Importance of Licencing & Safety

As Ghana’s gambling laws permit its citizens to play with offshore gambling sites, there is an increased risk that players will stumble across untrustworthy scam websites. This is why it’s essential that you verify the authenticity of a gambling site before you sign up or make any deposits. The best way to do this is to only gamble with licensed websites. Whether they are licensed by the Gaming Commission of Ghana (GCGH) or at a reputable foreign regulator such as the MGA or UKGC, this will guarantee that you will always receive your payouts, are not playing unfair games, have an encrypted connection, and are protected from unethical gambling practises. You can find some gambling safety organizations operating in Ghana below.

The Games and Betting Products

Of course, while it’s not uncommon for some gamblers to overlook the safety and security of site, this is less likely to happen with the games and betting products. This is because when it comes down to it, it’s all about playing the most fun and fair games. Before you sign up to a site, check the games catalogues and betting markets available to see if they appeal to you. At online casinos, check to see that there’s a wide variety of popular slots from several different software providers. If you like table games, make sure that there is a good selection of these stocked, and even a live casino.

If sports betting is more your thing, ensure that leagues and sports that you’re interested in are among the markets on offer. You’ll also want to check to see that there are other sports as you may want to alternate your activity depending on sporting seasons. While here, check that there are live betting and live streaming options as these can enhance the experience tenfold. The same goes for poker sites — check the rooms and games that are offered before deciding. Don’t be lured to a site by a welcome bonus alone, as it will be worth nothing if the games and betting products don’t meet your standards.

Most Popular Online Gambling Games

Different games appeal to different players in Ghana, with the most interest currently being in online slots and sports betting. Online slots tend to draw a huge following due to their boundless possibilities, with each game offering different features, betting limits, designs, and themes. As Ghana’s online gambling industry is so open, Ghanaian players have access to the most popular slots on the global market. Alternatively, Ghanaian players are also drawn to sports betting, with tennis and football betting attracting the most attention. Other casino games that are growing in popularity are roulette, baccarat, and craps. We have listed some popular gambling games in Ghana and their average payout rates below.

Choosing the Best Ghanaian Gambling Bonuses

One of the best ways to start your time at a new online casino, poker site, or sportsbook is to claim a welcome bonus. These promotions are offered to new customers at the sign-up stage and come in many different forms. For online casinos, you may be offered a free spin on popular slots or fund matches on your deposits. Sportsbooks may offer free bets, odds boosts, or cashbacks, which are essentially risk-free bets. While gambling sites licensed in Ghana will reward bonuses in Ghanaian currency, international sites may award them in US dollars, GB pounds or Euros. You can find some of the top bonuses and their terms and conditions in the table below.

Best Payout Ghanaian Gambling Sites

When a gambling site earns a license, it must verify that its games have fair return to player (RTP) rates and that overall, it meets a minimum average payout rate. The average payout rate is the average return to player rate of all of the site’s games and betting options. Therefore, the higher the average payout rate of a site, the fairer it is for players. There are several top independent testing agencies that verify operators payout rates, with eCOGRA being one such brand that is trusted by players and regulators alike. Below, we’ve provided the verified payout rates at the top Ghanaian gambling sites.

Available Payment Options

Licensed Ghanaian gambling sites offer a wide range of payment methods in order to appeal to the most gamblers. This is good as different payment methods have different characteristics. For example, while credit and debit cards can facilitate instant deposits, they often can’t be used for withdrawals. Alternatively, e-Wallets offer fast deposits and withdrawals, but operators or the companies may charge small transactions on fees. That being said, the availability of large financial companies indicates that the gambling sites are trusted by global leaders in anti-fraud technology and this ensures that your transactions will be protected. You can find the most commonly accepted payment methods available at Ghanaian gambling sites below.

1. e-Wallets:
   1. PayPal
   2. Neteller
   3. Skrill
   4. AirTel
2. Credit/Debit Cards:
   1. Mastercard
   2. VISA
   3. Maestro
   4. VISA Electron
3. Bank Transfers:
   1. Instant Banking
   2. Bank Transfer
   3. Wire Transfer
   4. Sofort
4. Other:
   1. Bitcoin
   2. Paysafecard
   3. ApplePay
   4. Google Pay
   5. MTN Mobile Money

Mobile Gambling

As smartphone use is on the rise in Ghana, and it has been closely linked with the uptick in Ghanaian gambling behaviour across the country. Some studies suggest that a majority of Ghana’s online gambling happens on mobile devices, proving just how important it is for sites to offer a mobile platform. This is why all of our recommended sites have mobile apps or are playable on mobile browsers. In all cases, the mobile platforms are accessible on iOS and Android platforms and offer most of the same features that are available on desktop versions. Below are the best mobile apps for each gambling site category alongside their technical requirements.

Safe & Fair Gambling Software

Choosing a site with good software is important because the software is the backbone of a gambling site. When we’re looking at an online casinos games catalogue, we prefer to see that several well-known and high-quality game developers are featured. This is because there are several different developers behind the most popular games, and if only one is featured, players will miss out on plenty of other great titles and franchises with unique payout systems, aesthetics and designs. Similarly, the software used on sportsbooks and poker sites has a major impact on the navigability and user experience of the site’s betting options and features. To ensure that your experience at a gambling site is stable, reliable, enjoyable, and stress-free, make sure that the site utilizes names as trusted as some of those we’ve listed below.

Ghana Gambling Laws & Regulations

Up until the early 2000s, gambling was heavily restricted in Ghana. Despite having avenues for land-based casinos to earn licenses for almost three decades, the first land-based casino wasn’t built until 2003. Shortly after, lawmakers passed the landmark Gaming Act of 2006. The law introduced some much-needed changes to the industry, including the creation of the Gaming Commission of Ghana, Ghana’s sole gaming regulator. But while the law legalized casino gambling and sports betting and created avenues for online gambling, it doesn’t directly address online gambling. Nevertheless, it is still completely legal for gamblers to bet with online gambling sites.

The Legality of Online Gambling in Ghana

The Gaming Act of 2006 clearly defined the legality of gambling in Ghana, whether that be land-based or online, and opened the gates for land-based casinos and online operators to earn licenses from the Ghana Gaming Commission. However, due to the fact that the law doesn’t directly address online gambling, the online market remains relatively unregulated.

Land-Based Gambling in Ghana

There are eight casinos in Ghana, with six of these located in the capital city of Accra. As only 10 per cent of the country’s citizens live in Accra, this has meant that most residents are unable to gamble at land-based casinos. Fortunately, betting shops are much more available, with more than 200 spread throughout Ghana’s cities and rural areas. The lottery is also widely available, and retailers can be found all over. Due to the relatively small land-based market, gambling at online casinos tends to be much more popular with Ghanaian players.

Official Ghanaian Gambling Regulator

The Gaming Commission of Ghana was established by the passing of the Gaming Act of 2006 and is in charge of regulating the land-based and online gambling industry in Ghana. It has a number of important functions including the issuance of licenses to gaming operators. The Gaming Commission ensures that licensees act in compliance with gaming laws and regulation and enforces penalties on those caught breaking the terms of their agreements. It operates under the Ministry of the Interior and informs the government on any needed changes to the industry while taking charge of taxation matters.

Gambling Taxation

Ghana’s taxation system on gaming is relatively straight forward. All operators, whether online or in-person, must pay taxes of 17.5 per cent on net gaming revenue. This is in addition to licensing application fees and annual license fees. The annual license fees are around $50,000 USD for casinos and $40,000 USD a year for sportsbooks. Fortunately, gamblers do not have to pay taxes on their winnings.

Legal Gambling Age

In order to gamble in Ghana, players must be over 18 years old. This applies to both land-based and online casino gambling, whether that be sports betting, poker, slots, table games, the lottery and daily fantasy sports. Before you create an account at an online gambling site, you will be required to submit your official identification documents. This is to ensure that you meet the minimum age and protects underage players from gambling. It is a criminal offence to gamble underage, and the minors and gambling operators facilitating this can face fines and even imprisonment.

Advertising Laws

One of the largest areas that have been seen as an oversight in Ghana’s gambling laws is the minimal restrictions on advertising that operators face. In fact, there are no marketing restrictions outlined in any laws in the country, and the lack of any clear online gambling-related legislation has meant that locally-licensed and foreign operators can market to Ghanaians at any time of day in any method they like. With problem gambling with youth on the rise in Ghana, many have pointed out the urgent need for these issues to be addressed. As we’ll explain in an upcoming section, advertising restrictions may be an area of focus if and when new regulation changes are announced.

Penalties for Illegal Gambling

The Gaming Act of 2006 is especially detailed in relation to what constitutes a gambling offence and how offenders will be punished if caught breaking the law. The Gaming Act defines a large number of crimes, including offering illegal gambling activities, cheating, money laundering, tax evasion, underage gambling and unauthorized public gaming. There is a wide range of punishments that can be ordered depending on the nature of the crime, ranging from fines to loss of license and even imprisonment. You can find some defined Ghanaiasn gambling crimes below and their punishments.

Upcoming Regulation Changes

In 2020, it was reported by SiGMA Gaming Festival that Ghana is set to enter a new phase of gambling regulation. The CEO of the Gaming Commission Peter Mireku confirmed that the GGC is looking to introduce new policies, with industry insiders expecting that these will concern regulations for online gambling. With particular emphasis put on aligning Ghanaian regulatory standards with European standards, it is likely then that matters of advertising and enhanced responsible gambling provisions will be included. While there is no news on when these changes will be made, this will ultimately be better for the country as it may boost tax revenues, as well as provide more player protections for players wanting to gamble with foreign sites.

Responsible Gambling & Addiction Prevention

One of the downsides to Ghana’s lack of online gambling site regulation is that there aren’t many local-specific resources to help with problem gambling. Fortunately, as most of our recommended sites are based in countries with strict responsible gambling measures, Ghanaian players have access to these useful tools and programs. Most sites allow players to self-limit and self-exclude to avoid excessive gambling. If you scroll to the bottom of these sites, you will also notice several logos responsible gambling organizations. These provide support to those struggling with compulsive gambling and their loved ones and can be used by Ghanaians. We’ve listed several of these available international organizations below.

Additional Fact About Gambling in Ghana

Unfortunately, there aren’t many public statistics and resources describing the modern gambling market in Ghana, but this is not uncommon for a developing market. What is known is that gambling is on the rise in the country, and this is having major social impacts. In sub-Saharan nations, an average of 50 per cent of adolescents gamblers, with Ghana being the lowest percentage of countries at 42 per cent of adolescents. This is a major concern for regulators and health experts in the country. As for the economic impact of gambling, the average licensed operator reports roughly $3.5 million in gross gaming revenues each month, and gambling currently represents 0.125 per cent of Ghana’s GDP.

History of Gambling in Ghana

Gambling can be traced back to very early on in modern Ghana’s history. The first law to legalize gambling was passed in 1960, only three years after Ghama declared independence from British rule. The law established a national lottery which was used to help raise funds for infrastructure in the developing nation. Some more major changes came in the 1970s with the passing of the Gambling Machines Act and Casino Licensing Act respectively. The former concerned the legality of slot machines and table games, while the latter opened the gates for casinos to apply for licenses. Despite this, the first casino wasn’t opened until 2003, three years before the passing of the Gaming Act of 2016. You can find further elaboration on each of these major milestones in Ghanaian gambling history and more in the timeline below.

Popular Land-Based Casinos and Resorts

There are eight land-based casinos in Ghana, with six of these being located in the capital city of Accra. Several of these are located within hotels, making them perfect to attract tourists looking for a tropical gaming getaway. While the first casino to open was the La Palma Casino, the largest of the casinos is the Victoria Casino, which boasts more than 1,300 gaming machines and more than 30 table games. Many of the sites also offer Vegas-style entertainment and dining opportunities, spa treatments and dining. Several casinos also host poker cash games and tournaments, as well as private gaming options for VIP players.

The Perks of Ghanaian Online Gambling vs Land-Based Gambling

Are you struggling to decide whether to spend your time gambling at land-based casinos and betting shops or online gambling sites? In our expert opinion, there are far more gaming options to enjoy at online casinos and sportsbooks than their land-based counterparts. Not only do players have access to the world’s most advanced, feature-rich sites, but they can be played anywhere with an internet connection. Unfortunately, gamblers wanting to enjoy casino games that don’t live in Accra don’t have many land-based options, though online casinos provide live casinos which replicate the experience beautifully. Online sportsbooks also offer live streaming of many events, making them a great substitute for betting shops. While we do recommend the occasional visit to land-based casinos for the atmosphere, entertainment and unique thrill, online gambling sites are much better for casual gaming sessions.

More Interesting Gambling Guides

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