Ghana Tightens Gambling Rules with Mandatory Biometric ID Checks

The Ghana Gaming Commission has transformed the nation’s gambling sector. The authority introduced biometric identity verification as mandatory for every bet placed in the country. The new regulation, which takes effect immediately, encompasses online and retail sportsbooks, casinos, and even promotional games. Combined with the recent tax adjustments, it marks a decisive step in Ghana’s ongoing efforts to modernize its gambling sector.

Operators Have Only a Month to Implement the New Systems

According to the new rules, aming operators must connect their systems directly to the National Identification Authority (NIA) database. Players will now be required to prove their identity using a fingerprint or facial recognition when placing a bet and again when collecting their winnings. The Ghana Card, issued by the NIA, will be the only identification document recognized by the system.

Emmanuel Siki Quainoo, acting commissioner of the Gaming Commission, noted that the initiative was designed to safeguard the industry against criminal exploitation and implement tighter standards for responsible gaming. The measures should also slow down gambling operations, giving bettors more chances to step away and reevaluate their playing patterns.

Operators in Ghana face a short and uncompromising timeline to implement the new verification requirements, with only a month to finalize testing and roll out biometric systems. Failure to comply could mean license suspension or rejection of renewal. The Commission was adamant that it would not show any leniency to offenders.

The Measure Should Bring Significant Benefits

While blocking fraud and underage gambling remain the primary motivations behind the updated regulations, authorities also hope that the new measures will promote increased transparency in the gambling sector. The industry has drawn scrutiny over potential money laundering and untracked cash flows. By linking all activity to verified biometric profiles, authorities will be better able to detect potential discrepancies.

Mandatory verification can also enable enhanced responsible gaming safeguards. Regulators will be able to track risky betting patterns, enforce spending limits, and implement exclusion measures for players who request them. Officials described the policy as part of a broader national digital strategy, which leverages identity-based systems across regulated sectors.

This new layer of protection aligns with a continued push to modernize Ghana’s gambling sector. In April, lawmakers scrapped the unpopular 10% tax on betting, gaming, and lottery winnings. The move, backed by President John Dramani Mahama, also removed other contentious levies. The government hopes that such efforts will encourage growth within the gambling sector while ensuring that play is fair, transparent, and free from abuse.