Betting Tax in Ghana

The Ghanaian government abolished a 10 percent withholding tax on betting winnings from 2 April 2025, allowing winners to receive their full prize money without any deductions at the point of payout. Prior to this change, successful bets had 10 percent automatically deducted, so a GH₵1,000 winning slip would only pay GH₵900. This reporting outlines the important dates, details and consequences of the tax reform for bettors, and what still affects the cash they receive.

What the 10 Percent Withholding Tax Was

From 2023, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) automatically withheld 10 percent from all betting, lottery and gaming winnings at the point of payout to the winner. The deduction came directly from the prize amount before the money reached the winner's hands, implemented as a straightforward 10% deduction. So a winning bet of 1000 Ghana cedi automatically became 900 cedis in the accounts book even if the operator states the customer wins 1000 cedis. The goal was to collect the tax efficiently by withholding it at source, rather than relying on bettors to declare and pay the tax on their winnings themselves later.

How the Betting Tax Repeal Came

The 10% winnings tax outlived its political favour. Parliament repealed the tax in a vote on 26 March 2025, approving the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025 without opposition. After the President signed it, the GRA applied the change. The GRA announced 2 April as the effective date. From that date, winners began to receive their full prize money without any GRA deduction at the time of payout.

What Else Changed in the Same Budget Cycle

The repeal of the 10% bet tax was part of a wider tax push in the 2025 budget cycle. The same session also abolished the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy, known as the E-Levy. The E-Levy was a charge of 0.5-1% on mobile money and electronic funds transfers, introduced in 2022 as an anti-corruption measure to track large transfers. But it proved unpopular and faced technical implementation challenges, so Parliament voted to scrap it along with the bet tax

What Bettors Receive From 2 April 2025

For bettors, the key effect of the repeal is that their winnings no longer have 10% deducted at payout. Before 2 April, a winning bet of 1,000 cedis would pay out 900 cedis due to the 100 cedis tax. But from that date forward, if a bettor wins 1,000 cedis, that is exactly what they receive. The operator's app and account balance will show the full amount, ready to withdraw. In other words, the tax no longer affects the amount paid to the bettor at all. From the date, a winner's payout slip will display the full prize, as they will receive the amount displayed, without losing any share to withholding tax.

What Still Affects the Amount Bettors Receive

Other factors may still affect the money bettors receive. The tax is over, but other fees, such as a fee charged by the card processor, may still apply. The tax no longer means coming off the winnings slip, but the operator may still enforce their own withdrawal policies on the amount you receive.

While this reform significantly improves the voter experience and resolves tax-related issues, the process of retrieving the money remains. It's now down to the bookmaker. So when asking how the money gets to you, check the operator's specific terms.

Conclusion

The repeal of the 10% winnings tax on betting and gaming in Ghana that took effect from 2 April 2025 is a straight-line tax outcome for successful bettors. Winnings are tax-free at payout, finally reaching the bettor in full. While other operator-specific withdrawal fees or minimum payouts may still affect the amount available to the winner, the good news for bettors is that tax is no longer the issue in receiving their full prize money. That tax is gone, and the amount that you see there is your money, no matter what your profession or money is.