If you have ever collected winnings from a Ghanaian casino or bookmaker, you have probably noticed that the final amount sometimes turns out to be less than expected. Until recently, the reason was simple – a 10% tax withheld upon withdrawal. But in 2026, the situation has changed dramatically, and many players are still confused about what exactly they are now required to pay by law, and what operators are required to pay.
Over the past couple of years, local authorities managed to introduce a 20% tax on casino gross revenue, then added a 10% withholding tax on player winnings, and then promptly repealed this levy for individuals.
It sounds like a rollercoaster, but in reality, it has all boiled down to a simple rule: operators pay tax on their turnover, and players receive their winnings in full. The problem is that not all platforms have updated their payment systems, and some continue to withhold the tax out of old habit. Therefore, understanding exactly how these rules work is useful, if only to avoid losing your money.
Who Pays What Now: The Tax Scheme for Casinos
The basis for taxation in the gambling sector is laid out in the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896) and its subsequent amendments, including Act 1094. For operators, the key point is the 20% tax on gross gaming revenue. GGR is defined as the difference between the total amount of bets accepted and the total amount of winnings paid out. The tax authority makes it clear: only bets and payouts are taken into account; operating expenses, marketing budgets, and other operator costs are not part of the formula.
For a legal online casino, this means a simple thing: tax must be paid regardless. GGR is calculated transparently, the rate is fixed, and obligations to the state arise irrespective of how aggressively the operator competes for players. Ultimately, every percentage point of margin must be divided between taxes, running costs, and bonuses for clients.
And while the tax on player winnings was abolished in 2025, the tax burden for businesses has not disappeared – it has simply been redistributed.
The Story of the 10% Tax on Winnings: Why the Idea Was Quickly Scrapped
In 2023, Ghanaian authorities decided to go further and introduced a 10% tax on gambling winnings, including sports betting and lotteries. The idea was that operators would act as tax agents: you win – the casino automatically deducts a tenth of the amount and sends it to the budget. It sounded like a decent source of revenue for the treasury, but in practice, things turned out differently.
Players simply started migrating to where there was no tax. Offshore platforms and illegal operators thrived – they didn’t deduct any 10% upon withdrawal, and the local market sharply declined compared to neighbouring countries.
By 2025, the government admitted the experiment had failed: the budget statement officially announced the repeal of the controversial tax, and the Ghana Revenue Authority confirmed that from April 2025, no further deductions from winnings would be made. Now, all payouts for licensed products proceed without an automatic 10% deduction, and the player receives exactly the amount they won.
How Taxes Reflect on Bonuses and Game Terms
The repeal of the 10% tax for players does not mean the state decided to become kinder. It simply shifted the entire burden onto businesses, and 20% on gross revenue is a serious blow to profitability, especially in a market where competing for each player is expensive. Operators have to find ways to cope, and this directly affects what you see in the casino interface.
In practice, it looks something like this:
Welcome bonuses
Huge deposit match percentages are less common, replaced by moderate offers with reasonable wagering requirements – ones that won’t bankrupt the casino if a player happens to win big.
The focus has shifted to retention
Instead of giving everything away at registration, operators invest in loyalty programs, quests, and cashback. It’s more profitable for them if you play for a long time and gradually, rather than coming in, hitting a jackpot, and leaving.
Internal limits have tightened
Maximum bonus wins and bet sizes during wagering are now calculated to prevent sharp fluctuations in statistics. GGR control is paramount.
It’s important to understand: a legal casino cannot hide from taxes. It must honestly factor them into its calculations. So, if some operator promises the moon with no limits and swears they operate under Ghanaian law, it’s worth checking their licence. More often than not, it’s just marketing with nothing behind it.
What’s Next: Where is Ghana’s Tax Policy Heading?
Ghana is currently in a phase of fine-tuning its tax system. After repealing the 10% tax on winnings and shifting the focus to casino gross revenue, authorities continue to seek a balance. Expert circles discuss the possibility of simplifying rules to make the market more predictable for investors and not drive operators offshore.
For the player, this means one thing: if the regulator manages to maintain transparency and reasonable rates, local licensed casinos will remain in the game and will be able to offer decent bonuses, without trying to compensate for the tax burden at your expense.
Your task here is simple – choose those who genuinely operate under these rules, not those who simply hang pretty banners about “state taxes” to cover for the absence of a real licence.
