Gaming Commission seeks media support to clamp down on illegal, underage gambling
The Gaming Commission of Ghana has so far licensed 55 gaming operators across the country, Acting Gaming Commissioner of Ghana, Emmanuel Quainoo, has revealed.
He explained that as of January 2025 to date, 23 casinos, 15 Sport betting, two route operators and five remote interactive game have been licensed.
He mentioned that others operators had put in their application while the rest had paid part of their license fees.
Mr Quainoo said this on Monday when he paid a courtesy call on the acting Editor of the Ghanaian Times and the Spectator Editor in Accra on Monday.
The call was part of the Acting Commissioner’s familiarisation tour to some media houses and to build partnerships with them.
He noted that the mandate of the commission was to regulate the activities of game operators and ensure they conform by the law.
Again, Mr Quainoo underlined that the commission was hoping to expand its operations and be visible in all regions across the country.
Acting Gaming Commissioner said the commission had been receiving calls on illegal and underage gambling and that it will need the assistance of the media in clamping down such operators.
“There is the need to pay attention to underage gambling because the children are our future,” he added.
Furthermore, he stated that operators whose facilities were involved in underage betting had been warned, adding that such illegal facilities would be closed down.
The Acting Editor of the Ghanaian Times, Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, outlined the rate at which the youth in some vulnerable Zongo communities were involved in betting was alarming.
He said some landlords in such communities were converting their building into gaming centres, an act he described as unfortunate.
Alhaji Abdul-Rahaman called on authorities of the Gaming Commission to intensify their education in schools, especially in the Zongo communities, while urging them to clamp down on illegal operators.
The Editor of the Spectator, Mrs Georgina N.M. Quaittoo, thanked the Commission for the visit, saying that, “we are willing to partner and support you.”
Also present at the meeting were Deputy Director, Human Resource and Administration, Ms Jennifer Puplampu, Deputy Director, Finance, Mr Nana Kwame Sekyi Dadzie, and Head of Corporate Affairs, Ms Beatrice Baiden.
BY JEMIMA ESINAM
KUATSINU
