Obtain a Licence in Ghana: Nuances of Launching an iGaming Site
Casino Market experts have prepared a step-by-step guide for joining one of Africa's most promising industries.
The General State of Affairs in the Sector
Ghana is one of the few countries on the continent with a legal and investor-friendly gaming niche.
The owners of the following startups can successfully work here:
- land-based casinos;
- bookmakers;
- lotteries;
- slots;
- digital portals for betting and table entertainment.
The iGaming Today news portal provides such statistics:
- $915.9 million — total market capitalisation at the beginning of 2025;
- 19.6 million — the number of active players;
- 8.03 million (41% of the population) — users who bet on sports at least once a week;
- 95% — volume of bids placed from mobile devices.
Online wagering accounts for 41% of the market's revenue. High interest in football and the wide use of mobile Internet have made bookmaking a part of everyday culture in the country. It is preferred by both young people and the older generation.
Land-based gaming halls are also part of the local industry, but the increase of their income falls behind in comparison with virtual portals.
The region has several large entertainment complexes (Golden Dragon Casino, Millionaires Casino, and others), aimed primarily at tourists.
Legal Framework
In this African jurisdiction, gaming is not only permitted but also controlled by the government. The country has several regulations that manage every aspect of the niche, from company registration to software verification.
The relevant sectoral legislation is represented by the following decrees:
- Gaming Act, 2006 (Act 721). It defines legal formats of entertainment for money, licensing rules, and penalties for violations.
- National Lottery Act, 2006 (Act 722). The document regulates the lottery business. It establishes the working rules for the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and other participants.
- Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992). It outlines the norms and stages of setting up entertainment brands in the region. This law is especially important since only registered firms with authorised capital and local ownership can apply for a licence.
Permits are processed and issued by the GCG. The regulator reports to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and has broad powers. Its competencies include the confirmation of the reliability of businessmen, monitoring tax revenues, and technical audit.
Types of Gambling Licences
The GCG issues several types of certificates depending on the enterprise’s format.
Casino Permit
This document is designed for traditional entertainment clubs that offer roulette, poker, blackjack, baccarat, slots, etc.
Such a licence is issued only for stationary facilities: physical premises that meet security norms.
The location of a casino must be pre-approved by the authorities. For example, gambling halls cannot be opened near churches, schools, or state institutions.
Staff and managers must undergo a background check. Personnel with criminal records or other legal problems cannot be employed.
The minimum bank guarantee for opening an enterprise is $2 million.
Sportsbook Licence
This is the most sought-after permit in the local market, which covers both offline betting shops and virtual bookmakers. It is issued for 12 months and must be renewed each year.
Such a certificate has already been received by Betway, Premier Bet, MyBet, and other international vendors that have opened representative offices in Ghana.
Specifics of obtaining this document:
- the betting brand must have a local branch;
- a software compliance certificate confirming the integrity of bookmaker calculations and odds is required;
- entrepreneurs are required to implement KYC and AML systems to identify players and prevent ML.
The minimum authorised capital for offline and digital betting shops is $2 million.
Route Operation Permit
This format is intended for companies that install wagering machines outside of casinos: in bars, clubs, hotels, and shopping centres.
The certificate covers the work of a chain of slots, not just a single establishment. The document is often obtained by providers who simultaneously service 20–100 gaming outlets in different regions of the country.
All equipment must be numbered and registered in the GCG database. The regulator conducts a technical audit of each device to ensure it is certified and does not falsify the results. The minimum authorised capital for the applicants is $500,000. Entrepreneurs are also required to make annual payments for each installed unit.
Promotional Games Licence
It is intended for operators and commercial brands that organise prize draws among customers. For example, Vodafone Ghana and MTN Ghana regularly obtain such permits before launching marketing campaigns.
Features of the document:
- it is applied to raffles, contests, and promo games whose outcome depends on chance;
- it needs approval of advertising rules before the draw begins;
- it is valid only for the duration of the campaign.
The fee depends on the promotion’s scale and timeframe.
Interactive Permit
It is intended for virtual portals and is issued to the owners of casinos, poker rooms, and live dealer resources. BetPawa, 22Bet, and other international firms work in the local sector based on this certificate.
Rules for the applicants include:
- registration in the country and opening of the local office;
- completion of a game server audit by GCG;
- software certification by such laboratories as GLI, BMM Testlabs, and others;
- integration of data protection, KYC, and AML systems;
- connection of local financial services (some transactions must go through Ghanaian banks and certified fintech companies).
The minimum monetary guarantee for obtaining an Interactive Gaming Licence is $1.5 million.
How to Obtain a Permit in Ghana
Casino Market experts have prepared step-by-step instructions for operators.
Creation of a Legal Entity
To submit an application, the firm must be registered in Ghana as an LLC. Information about the new brand is entered into the Registrar General's Department.
The law allows for both domestic and foreign investors, but there is a local participation rule. According to it, a part of the stocks or the share capital of the gambling enterprise must be owned by Ghanaian citizens.
This requirement is necessary for:
- creating jobs for the local population;
- increasing the regulator's trust in casino brands;
- retaining a part of the profits within the country.
After registration, entrepreneurs receive:
- certificate;
- charter;
- tax identification number.
It is best to immediately indicate gaming operations in the description of the company’s activities. This will help avoid repeated registrations in the future.
The Collection of Documents
The more carefully a firm prepares its application, the faster a positive decision on the iGaming project’s licensing will be made.
Casino owners must provide:
- A detailed business plan. This specifies the format of work, income and expenditure forecast, marketing strategy, as well as target audience.
- Articles of incorporation. This includes the charter, registration certificates, and fiscal codes.
- Information on key individuals. It is possible to submit the resumes of directors and managers, describing their experience in administration, finance, and IT. Entrepreneurs should also provide evidence of their credibility, such as a certificate of good conduct.
- Financial statements. This confirms the sources of capital formation. Bank statements, investment agreements, and property rights are acceptable.
- Compliance certificates for program components. Test lab reports are available from eCOGRA, GLI, BMM TestLab, and other accredited centres.
- Additional documents. This includes a lease for the office, information on the technical infrastructure, a contract with a hosting provider, data protection protocols, and a description of the betting system.
Application Filing
Prepared documents must be sent to the GCG office.
At this stage, the following steps are taken:
- registration of an application;
- appointment of a supervisor from among the commission's employees;
- a detailed review of the source of funds and business reputation.
The time for consideration of an application is 30–90 days, depending on the complexity of the project and the completeness of the information provided.
Practical Verification
The GCG inspection includes:
- examination of offices and gaming halls;
- IT infrastructure review (for brands that work on the Internet — servers, payment gateways, security services);
- interviews with directors and technicians;
- software testing.
Based on the results obtained, a report is prepared with a recommendation to grant or refuse a permit.
Acquisition of a Licence
The document is issued for 1 year, but can be extended under a simplified procedure.
The certificate specifies:
- the type of permitted activities (casino solutions, betting, iGaming);
- registration data of operators;
- validity period;
- renewal conditions and grounds for revocation.
After receiving a licence, providers are required to register with the GRA. Additionally, they must submit monthly GGR reports and pay taxes or fees in a timely manner.
Licensing Costs and Fiscal Burden
Tariffs depend on the type of activity and the scale of the business. Owners of local portals transfer smaller contributions than international brands.
The expenses for launching digital casinos include:
- Initial licence fee. Operators pay $40,000–$60,000 (depending on the portal and Internet traffic volume), and bookmakers pay $40,000.
- The cost of the annual renewal. Entrepreneurs should spend $50,000 on it.
- Inspection fee. The sum depends on the scale of business. Casino owners pay $2,000–$5,000.
- Price for the technical audit. iGaming companies must transfer $5,000.
According to Ernst & Young, the total tax burden on operators in Ghana is 35–40% of their profits. This is lower than in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and other African countries where the placement of bets is considered legal.
Main commissions and fees are:
- corporate tax — 25% of the net profit;
- VAT — 15% of the cost of provided services, including bids and deductions to the website;
- gambling revenue levy (GRL) — 10–12% of GGR;
- Withholding Tax — it is held from commissions to partners or dividends.
If a company has employees, it is required to calculate and transfer pension contributions and income charges.
The Main Things about Gaming Permits in Ghana
The entertainment market in this country is legal and quite promising.
Key aspects that operators should take into account:
- All forms of entertainment services are allowed in the region. These include offline and virtual casinos, bookmakers, digital poker, and lotteries. A licence is required to legitimately accept bets. This document is valid for 12 months but can be renewed.
- A separate permit is required for each type of activity. The most popular option is the sportsbook licence, which covers both offline and virtual activities. The right to open an online platform is granted by another certificate.
The Casino Market studio helps with legalisation and promotion of entertainment projects. We offer turnkey websites, White Label portals, bookmaking solutions, program components for lotteries, payment systems, security software, and much more.
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