Ghana · B2B & B2C
Obtaining a Gambling License in Ghana
The player-winnings tax was repealed in 2025, and Ghana is now West Africa's 4th-largest online market. We handle incorporation, the resident director and the Gaming Commission application end to end.
Ghana at a glance
- Regulator
- Gaming Commission of Ghana (GCG)
- Law
- Gaming Act 2006 (Act 721)
- Online route
- Class 2 (online sports betting) or Class 5 (interactive/mobile gaming)
- GGR tax
- 20% of GGR
- Tax on winnings
- Repealed (effective 2 Apr 2025)
- Min. capital / guarantee
- GIPC: US$500k foreign-owned / US$200k with a Ghanaian partner
- Timeline
- ≈ 2–3 months (statutory maximum up to 12)
- Foreign ownership
- Up to ~90%, with a 10% Ghanaian shareholding required
Key consideration: No standalone B2B licence: suppliers must work through a licensed operator, and a resident director and 10% local ownership are mandatory.
Ghana is one of West Africa’s most attractive regulated online-gambling markets. It is the continent’s fourth-largest by online gross win, growing around 24% year on year, and it became more appealing in 2025 when the government repealed the 10% withholding tax on player winnings. Operators run both land-based and online activity under a single Gaming Commission licence.
Who needs a licence
Any operator offering casino, sports betting or interactive gaming to players in Ghana needs a Gaming Commission licence in the relevant class. Online sports betting falls under Class 2, and mobile/interactive gaming under Class 5. There is no standalone supplier licence, so B2B game studios and aggregators reach the market through a licensed local operator.
The process
Getting licensed in Ghana means incorporating a local company with a registered office, appointing at least one resident director, securing a 10% Ghanaian shareholding (and GIPC registration for foreign capital), and passing fit-and-proper security vetting before the Commission grants the licence. SMPL Core runs this end to end, covering the entity, resident director, probity dossier and application, and can bundle the platform, payments and hosting so you launch fast.
Licence types
What you can license in Ghana
The B2C operator licences and B2B supplier routes we cover.
B2C operator licences
For brands taking bets or running games for players.
- Class 1: Casino
- Class 2: Sports Betting (incl. online)
- Class 3: Route Operations
- Class 4: Promotional / Remote Gaming
- Class 5: Mobile / Interactive (online) Gaming
B2B supplier licences
For software, platform and game suppliers.
No standalone B2B licence in Ghana, so suppliers operate through a licensed operator. We structure that route for you.
How to get licensed in Ghana
End-to-end, from entity to live operation.
Jurisdiction & feasibility
We confirm the right licence class for your model and map the requirements, costs and timeline.
Company & resident director
We incorporate a compliant local entity (registered office, secretary, tax) and provide the resident/nominee director regulators require.
Application & regulator liaison
We draft and submit the application, prepare the probity dossier and manage the regulator through to grant.
Licence & go-live
We set up banking and payment rails and, if you want it, bundle the platform so you launch fast.
Costs
Government fees & taxes
Official regulator and tax figures. These are government charges, not SMPL's service fee. Figures verified 2026-06-11; confirm against the regulator before relying on them.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Casino (Class 1) | ≈ US$50k application / US$60k annual indicative; official LI schedule varies, confirm with the GCG |
| Sports betting (Class 2) | ≈ US$40k application / US$50k annual indicative |
| Route operations (Class 3) | ≈ US$30k application / US$5k annual indicative |
| GGR tax | 20% of GGR |
| Tax on player winnings | Repealed (effective 2 Apr 2025) |
Get a tailored Ghana quote
Tell us your model, and we'll map a fast, compliant route and the all-in cost.
What we do
Our Ghana licensing services
End-to-end market entry. Pick the pieces you need.
Jurisdiction selection & feasibility
We compare regimes, taxes and timelines and recommend the right market and licence class for your model.
Local company incorporation
Registration of a compliant local entity, including memorandum/articles and registered office.
Nominee & resident-director provision
A vetted resident/local director to satisfy genuine-presence rules — structured for full beneficial-ownership transparency.
Registered office & company secretary
Local registered address, company secretary and statutory record-keeping.
Tax registration
Tax identification, gaming-tax and VAT registration with the local revenue authority.
UBO & fit-and-proper dossier
Preparation of beneficial-ownership disclosures and the probity/background-check pack regulators require.
Licence application & regulator liaison
Drafting and submission of the application and ongoing liaison with the regulator through to grant.
AML / KYC policy
Anti-money-laundering and KYC policies aligned to local law and FIU reporting requirements.
Responsible-gambling policy
Self-exclusion, deposit limits, age verification and responsible-gaming compliance.
Corporate bank account
Opening a local corporate and settlement account — a hard precondition for licensed operation.
Payments & mobile-money integration
Onboarding to local rails (M-Pesa, MoMo, bank transfer, cards) that an offshore licence can't access.
Renewals & ongoing compliance
Annual renewals, regulatory reporting and compliance audits so your licence stays live.
Why SMPL Core
A specialist in African licensing
Genuine national licences, a compliant local director, and an optional platform bundle, a combination few competitors match.
Africa-native, on the ground
We do the hard national licences in-market, not an offshore shell that can't touch local payments.
Compliant resident director
We provide the genuine local presence regulators require, with full beneficial-ownership transparency.
Platform on tap
Bundle SMPL's casino platform, aggregator and payments to go live under one SLA, optional and never forced.
Get licensed in Ghana
30 minutes, licensing only. We'll confirm the licence class you need in Ghana, what it costs and how long the grant realistically takes.
Ghana licensing FAQ
Common questions about getting licensed in Ghana.
No platform or game content yet?
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Disclaimer: This page is general information about gambling licensing in Ghana. It is not legal, tax or financial advice and does not create a client relationship. SMPL Core is a market-entry and licensing consultancy, not a law firm or licensed legal practice; regulated legal and tax services are delivered through qualified local professionals. Laws, taxes, fees and timelines change frequently and some figures are indicative, so verify any figure with the relevant regulator or a qualified local adviser before acting; figures last reviewed 2026-06-11. We do not facilitate any arrangement intended to conceal beneficial ownership or circumvent local-ownership requirements.