Gambling in certain countries and jurisdictions is restricted or even outlawed. This makes it difficult or even impossible for online casinos to operate in these places and often leads to increased illegal gambling. Many of these places are experiencing changes in their rules for either better or worse depending on which side of the fence you sit on.
The following article will explore the growth of online casinos in Ghana, detailing the state of gambling in the country and the changing landscape. As well as this, the article will go into detail about gambling legislation, the different types of gambling, and where you can access online casino games in Ghana.
Overview of Ghana
Ghana is an African nation located in Western Africa near the Ivory Coast, Togo, and Burkina Faso. The country has a population of approximately 27 million people and the official language is English although many other dialects are spoken. Ghana has a reputation for being a welcoming country that encourages tourism although it is not particularly commercialised.
Gambling in Ghana
There are several different types of gambling activities that are popular in Ghana.
These include:
Lotteries - Ghana has a state-run national lottery that takes place every week. As well as this, people can buy tickets for international lotteries online.
Brick-and-Mortar Casinos - There are a total of four land-based casinos in Ghana, two of which are based in Accra. Each of these is open to Ghanaian residents and tourists.
Sports Betting - Another popular type of gambling in Ghana that is available to partake in both in-person and on the internet. Bets can also be taken over the phone.
Online Gambling - This encompasses online casinos, online poker, online bingo, and online sportsbooks, all of which are very popular in Ghana.
Gambling Regulations in Ghana
Gambling in Ghana is legal and regulated by an authoritative gambling body known as the Ghana Gaming Commission (GGC). This organization is entirely responsible for gambling in the country and oversees all regulated activity excluding the national lottery. This is instead run by the National Lottery Authority (NLA).
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The GGC is responsible for regulating, monitoring, and supervising gambling activities and games of chance. This is due to the Gaming Act of 2006. All licensing for casino operations and sports betting is also dealt with by the GGC.
Online Casinos in Ghana
Playing at online casinos is legal and there is an extensive list of live casinos in Ghana to play at. However, due to cost, the number of online casino players in the African nation is relatively limited.
Nevertheless, Ghana’s internet usage is growing fast as a greater number of people can afford an internet connection. Just over a decade ago, there were an estimated 1 million internet users in the country whereas that figure stands at more than 4x that amount today. As a result, online gambling has also seen a big increase in Ghana.
There are lots of different online casinos catering to players from Ghana. These operators are not solely based in the country but still offer the relevant currency and are not geographically restricted. You can expect to find all your favourite online casino games from table games like poker and blackjack to online video slots.
Online casinos provide the perfect antidote for those who do have the time, effort, or disposable income to travel long distances to a brick-and-mortar casino. Instead, players can enjoy these casinos from the comfort of their own homes provided they have a stable internet connection.
There are many options when it comes to choosing an online casino for players in Ghana. As mentioned, lots of online casinos are based in the country itself and these will have an online gaming license provided by the GGC. However, there are also a lot of offshore online casinos that accept players from Ghana. Oftentimes, players will use USD, GBP, or EUR when playing at these casinos but withdrawals in Ghanaian Cedis are available.
Brick-and-Mortar Casinos in Ghana
The other form of casino in Ghana is known as a brick-and-mortar casino or a land-based casino. These are establishments that you can visit in-person and are the sort popularised in TV and film.
Right now, Ghana has four different brick-and-mortar casinos. These are primarily open in the evening, however, slot machines can sometimes be accessed before table games.
One of Ghana’s land-based casinos is known as La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. This casino is located in the capital city of Accra. La Palm Royal Beach Hotel opens ad midday each day and las an array of different slot machines and table games. These include baccarat, poker, blackjack, and roulette. In addition, there are also betting booths where people can make bets on the internet. These booths are in collaboration with global sportsbook Ladbrokes.
Another casino in Ghana is the Millionaires Casino which is also found in the capital Accra. This establishment is part of the Golden Tulip Hotel and opens each day at 8:00 pm. There are approximately 50 gaming machines as well as blackjack tables, roulette tables, and two poker tables.
The Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi is a 4-star business hotel and is home to another of Ghana’s casinos. Casino games can be played from 3:00 pm each day and jackpot slots, video poker, and table games are all at your disposal
Lastly, The Golden Dragon Casino in Tema is found within the Prince Hotel. Like La Palm Royal Beach Hotel casino, this one also opens each day at noon. There is a choice of 38 video slot games that do not require coins to play. Some of these include progressive jackpots whilst table games such as roulette, blackjack, and poker are also on offer here.
Anyone interested in playing poker at a land-based casino in Ghana should call ahead of visiting to make sure there is space for them. Failing that, Ghanian players can head online to play at an online casino platform.
