Lessons from UKs Online Betting Framework for Ghanas Regulatory Body

One of the most common pieces of advice to new online gamblers, is to only play at licensed sites. Regulatory bodies are an significant layer of online gambling, regardless of the geographical location they have jurisdiction in.

From the UK, which is Europe’s largest betting territory, to the operations within Ghana, legal framework is key not only for regulating business practices but also for player security. But the rules and regulations of governing bodies differ, but sometimes the framework is built on how other countries handle online betting. 

UK Gambling Commission
There has been a huge increase in the popularity of online gambling sites, sportsbooks and bookmaker bonus offers since the turn of the century. The Gambling Commission, which has issued more than 3,000 licences to 2,400+ online companies and was formed on the back of the country’s vitally significant Gambling Act 2005.

For the first time, that act expanded stricter rules and regulations about betting and gambling platforms. The guidelines offered by the UK Gambling Commission, because of its longevity, experience and broad reach across the world of online gambling, are regarded as some of the best in the world with the power to issues and revoke licences. 

Ghana Gaming Commission
The Gaming Commission of Ghana operates under the Ministry of the Interior and was established under the country’s 2006 Gaming Act. With the lottery being the exception, it oversees all games of chance online including sports betting, horse racing and casino.

While the Gaming Act 2006 doesn’t specifically mention online gaming, a licensed operator can operate online in Ghana. In any instance of such an overseeing body, companies that want to provide such games of chance have to get licensed first.

Ghana’s Online Betting Growth
Some of the industry's major players are now part of the Ghana online betting scene, offering online services to customers. This has been an significant part of the growth of the industry, as established betting operators naturally lend credence to the security of the sector. The growth has seen the number of licensed operators within Ghana almost triple within a few years.

That has reportedly been driven by the youth of the country and their affinity with major sports leagues such as England’s Premier League and Europe’s UEFA Champions League. The expansion in media rights for top sporting events has had a massive impact on the Ghanaian gambling industry.

Locations
Regulations about where a player can gamble will heavily depend on geographical location. In some countries like the Philippines, locals can only play at gambling sites that aren’t from within the country.

UK punters likewise should only play at sites from within the country for sports betting, which are licensed by the Gambling Commission. The violation of the gambling laws can result in severe penalties, which can range from fines to imprisonment.

Pushing Forward
Ghana has already leaned on some of the strengths that the UK Gambling laws laid down. Both operate the same legal gambling age of 18, and both have betting open for residents and tourists. Will it look to the UK for further improvements?

Because of the increasing popularity of mobile innovation, the UK released a White Paper seeking reforms to the Gambling Act 2005. The purpose of the intended new regulations is to specifically target smartphones and online gambling, two areas of concern, especially among the vulnerable youth - 39% of teenagers in the UK gamble.

The new regulations will create an independent ombudsman that can oversee the effects of online gambling, which will increase to 26% of the population by March 2023. New regulations will importantly look to enforce stake limits as well as make operators responsible for the costs of gambling addiction treatment.

The UK gambling market has around 14 million active players and these are revolutionary steps forward as the UK attempts to further protect players.

The Next Steps
The next crucial step in the Ghana online gambling landscape will be to watch the impact of the new UK regulations, which should come into play in the summer of 2024. Then Ghana could forge forward in a similar format of tightening regulations around mobile gambling. 

With smartphone ownership at approximately 99% now in Ghana, it may well be a essential step forward as the country’s gambling industry is predicted to rise by 12 per cent in the next half a decade.