The History of Casinos and Gambling in Ghana

Ghana might not be the first place you associate with casinos and gambling but this West African country has a decent pedigree for the pastime. Let’s explore some of the aspects that contribute to its rich history.

The Legality of Gambling in Ghana

For the most part, gambling has been legal in Ghana since 1965 as the Lotteries and Betting Act allowed for government-sanctioned and regulated activities to operate within the country. This was overridden by the 2006 Gaming Act which made it easier for businesses to trade in the country. This new act also allowed online gambling to take place in the country, meaning if you’re looking for free casino games that also offer real money check out these slots. The caveat for websites to operate legally in the nation is that they must be licensed and ratified by the Ghanaian government. This makes it one of the African states that allow online gambling to take place.

Are there any Casinos in Ghana?

As gambling has been legal in Ghana since the 1960s, there are a few land-based casinos in the country. At present count, there are only around seven venues that can call themselves proper casinos with multiple tables and games on offer.

Four of these are found in the capital city, Accra. Three of these can be found near one another by the coastal edge of the city, while Lancaster Accra is a bit further in, closer to Kotoka International Airport.

La Palm Royal Beach Hotel might be one of the most idyllic holiday spots in Ghana with golden sands within glancing distance and the downtown city just a few steps away. The on-site La Palm Casino has all the gambling entertainment you could want with many live games to play with your fellow patrons.

The Golden Dragon Casino with Osu Mall on Oxford Street gives off a very retro Las Vegas feeling with its grand decorations, red and gold carpeting, and a fine selection of games. The same company operates a sister casino by the same name in Tema, a city in the Greater Accra region.

As well as these traditional gambling venues there are also multiple slot halls and card rooms found within the country. Vulkano Games is one of the most popular brands as it operates many slot halls.

There’s also a growing seedy underground and illegal gambling scene in Ghana which the government is trying to stamp out. Some police raids have already seized dodgy slot machines that never paid out to their customers.

How do Ghanaians like to Gamble?

The population of Ghana likes to gamble through a few different mediums. Casino games played both at a live venue and online are very popular, with traditional card games often participated in. Sports betting is also a very keen pastime with lots of Ghanaian gamblers often predicting football results and scores. The country also has a deep-rooted connection to national lotteries, as such older generations still enjoy playing these games.

Gambling tourism to Ghana

Given that Ghana has a fairly relaxed stance on gambling (when compared to the rest of Africa) it can attract visitors from all over the continent to enjoy their facilities. The western border is shared with the Ivory Coast, who might pop over to Ghana to enjoy many more casinos (reportedly only one in the Ivory Coast) and a lower age limit on gambling activity.

The northern neighbours of Burkina Faso may also set their sights on Ghana for a gambling holiday as there are no reports of a proper casino in the entirety of the country. Togo and Benin are both to the East of the Ghanian border and could attract budding gamblers as they also lack casinos of real quality, making Ghana a real destination for West African bettors to want the casino experience without going to Las Vegas.

Ghana also holds an advantage over many other countries when it comes to online gambling. Citizens of Botswana, Burundi, and the Central African Republic can visit land-based casinos but are legally annexed from gambling online. Should they visit Ghana, they will be able to enjoy the fruits of iGaming during their stay. It might even lead to them moving there if they like it so much.

It’s worth remembering that Africa is a vast continent with a rich tapestry of different cultures and belief systems. Algeria, Libya, and Somalia are some of the stricter countries when it comes to outlawing gambling. While the law speaks for a lot of people, there might be individuals who want to break social norms and gamble. A trip to Ghana allows them to do that as the laws are incredibly different to the aforementioned nations.