Betting has quietly but firmly rooted itself in Ghanaian society. What once seemed like a harmless pastime is now a habit—one that is gripping the youth and pulling in even adults.
More unsettling is the rise in female participation, a sign that betting is no longer confined to one demographic. As it spreads, younger and more impressionable individuals are beginning to see it as just another part of everyday life. That shift in perception could prove dangerous.
We know the risks. The high-stakes nature of betting—where the line between winning big and losing everything is razor-thin—makes it inherently addictive. Those who win may pursue further victories.
Those who fail may resort to stealing, lying, or robbing to stay in the game. The consequences go beyond the wallet. Academic futures are jeopardised. Ambitions are stalled. Streets, not classrooms, become the new learning environment for some.
What began as a quiet trend has grown into a national force. And politicians have taken notice.
The repeal of the 10% betting tax became a political weapon. Both the NDC and NPP dangled it to win favor with the youth. Eventually, the NDC made good on their promise: the tax is gone. But at what cost? Has the government just handed the youth a loaded gun in the form of unregulated gambling?
This is not just about revenue. It’s about values. When a nation incentivises lottery tickets over labor, chance over effort, and quick wins over long-term growth, it digs a pit that future generations may not climb out of.
Even in advanced countries, betting is linked to mental health issues and suicide. If those with better support systems and stricter regulations are struggling, what makes us think we are immune? By removing the tax, we’ve taken away one of the few speed bumps on this reckless road. And for what? Political applause?
Perhaps the actual conversation is not about taxing betting itself, but about whether it belongs here in our society. Because if gambling becomes the future we offer our youth, we should not be surprised when that future collapses under its own weight.
