Ghana · tax
The 10% Withholding Tax on Betting Wins
You cash out. Less money arrives than you asked for. The casino did not cheat you — this is the tax. Here is how it is worked out.
The tax is 10%. It has applied since August 2023. And here is the part nobody explains: it is charged on your winnings only — not on the whole amount you take out.
The three numbers that matter
- Payout — the amount you ask to withdraw.
- Deductible Stake — the deposits you made since your last cash-out, counting only the last 30 days. Never cashed out before? Then it is all your deposits, still only 30 days back. This part is not taxed. It is your own money coming home.
- Gross Winnings — Payout minus Deductible Stake. The 10% comes off this and nothing else. If it works out to zero or less, you pay no tax at all.
In one line: tax = 10% × (payout − deposits in the last 30 days since your previous withdrawal).
Three worked examples
| Situation | Payout | Deductible stake | Gross winnings | 10% tax | You receive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| You deposited GHS 200 this month and cash out GHS 500 | GHS 500 | GHS 200 | GHS 300 | GHS 30 | GHS 470 |
| You deposited GHS 200 and cash out GHS 150 — you are down | GHS 150 | GHS 200 | GHS 0 | GHS 0 | GHS 150 |
| You deposited GHS 50, then withdrew once, then deposited GHS 100 and cash out GHS 400 | GHS 400 | GHS 100 | GHS 300 | GHS 30 | GHS 370 |
Remember the middle row. If you are down for the month, there are no winnings — so there is no tax. A losing month never gets worse because of this.
The 30-day trap
Only the last 30 days of deposits count. Top up in January, play slowly, cash out in March — and those January deposits no longer protect anything. The whole payout counts as winnings, even though part of it is plainly your own money.
There is no trick around it. Just know it exists. Sitting on a balance built from old deposits? The tax when you cash out will be bigger than you expect.
One more deduction stacks on top, and it is not tax: if you deposited and never placed a bet, only 50% of that deposit is withdrawable until you wager it once. More on withdrawal rules.
General information, not tax advice. For your own situation, the Ghana Revenue Authority is the authority.
Check your own numbers
Your deposit history and the deductible stake are both visible inside your account.
18+. Play responsibly.
Frequently asked questions
Who charges the 10% — the casino or the government?
The government. It is a withholding tax set by the Ghana Revenue Authority, in force since 15 August 2023. The operator collects it at the point of withdrawal and passes it on.
Is the tax charged on everything I withdraw?
No. Only on your winnings. The deposits you funded that balance with are deducted first, so money you put in and take back out again is not taxed twice.
What exactly is the Deductible Stake?
The sum of every deposit you made since your last withdrawal — or every deposit ever, if you have never withdrawn — but counting only deposits made in the last 30 days.
What happens to deposits older than 30 days?
They fall out of the Deductible Stake. This is the part that catches people: a deposit made 40 days ago no longer shelters your payout from the tax.
Does it apply to casino games or only sports betting?
Both, plus virtual games. The operator states it applies to sports betting, virtual games and all casino games.
When is it taken?
At withdrawal — the point at which, in the tax authority's framing, the gaming session ends and the money returns to your mobile money wallet or bank.