President Mahama has assented to the repeal of the betting tax on April 2, 2025, after it was approved by Parliament following thorough deliberations.
This implies that the 10% withholding tax on betting, gaming, and lottery winnings has officially been canceled and will no longer be in force.
The decision fulfills the campaign promise of President Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2024 elections.
As previously reported, Parliament officially approved the repeal of the betting tax on gaming and lottery following a vote on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, explained that the government has now abolished all withholding taxes on lottery, of which the betting tax is a subset.
“This is far more than what we (the NDC) promised in our manifesto. In our manifesto, we promised to remove the betting tax, which is a subcomponent of the lottery tax. Mr Speaker, what we have done is not only remove the tax on betting but also remove the tax on gaming and the tax on lottery,” he said.
The introduction of the tax was met with vehement criticisms from sports fans and stakeholders, who believed it would worsen the financial burden on persons involved in betting.
However, previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials defended the tax, arguing that it would discourage youth from betting and encourage them to engage in more legitimate ways to earn income.
