Ghana bettors win big at WAFCON match as betting tax gets the boot
Ghanaian fans pocket full pay-outs after recent soccer victory, as tax break fuels betting boom and national pride.
Ghana.- Ghanaian bettors celebrated jubilantly after pocketing full winnings without the usual 10 per cent betting tax, following a thrilling high-stakes football clash in which Ghana triumphed over Algeria at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter finals.
Ghanaian Member of Parliament Owen Frimpong publicly praised the national women’s football team, Black Queens, during a parliamentary session, highlighting the positive impact their recent match had on bettors across Ghana. This follows the betting tax being scrapped in April.
He expressed the excitement among his constituents, during his address in Parliament, after Ghana’s dramatic win over Algeria, emphasising that bettors were able to enjoy their full winnings. “The people in my constituency are happy the Black Queens made them win bets and there was no 10 per cent tax,” Frimpong said, according to GBC Ghana.
Ghana chases bronze medal amid betting boom
After clinching victory over Algeria, Ghana’s Black Queens threw their full weight into the semi-final against Morocco. It was a tough battle, and while the final slipped just out of reach, their journey isn’t over yet. With South Africa next in line, the Queens have one last shot at a bronze medal and they’re not showing any signs of slowing down.
Away from the action on the field, Ghanaian bettors are reaping real rewards following the government’s decision in April to scrap the 10 per cent tax on betting winnings, allowing punters to pocket their full pay-outs for the first time.
President John Mahama signed the amendment into law, putting an end to a policy that had long frustrated many. Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Forson explained during his budget presentation that the goal was to ease financial pressure on everyday Ghanaians.
By cutting this tax, the government hopes to not only put more money back in people’s pockets but also give a boost to the country’s growing gaming industry.
The result is that bettors now take home every cedi of their winnings, and there is growing optimism that this move will help energise both players and operators in the months ahead.
