Ghana Enforces Biometric Verification for All Gambling Activities

The Gaming Commission of Ghana has unveiled sweeping new regulations requiring biometric identification for every bet placed in the country, covering online and physical sportsbooks, casinos, and promotional games. The measure, introduced alongside recent tax reforms, marks a decisive step toward strengthening security and modernising the nation’s gambling sector.

Under the new rules, all gambling operators must link their platforms to the National Identification Authority’s (NIA) database. Players will now be required to authenticate their identity through either fingerprint or facial recognition technology, both when placing bets and when collecting winnings. The Ghana Card, issued by the NIA, will serve as the sole valid form of identification.

Emmanuel Siki Quainoo, acting commissioner of the Gaming Commission, said the policy is intended to protect the industry from criminal exploitation while tightening responsible gambling standards. He explained that the system is designed to “slow down betting activities, allowing players to make more thoughtful decisions regarding their gambling behaviour.”

Operators face a deadline of just one month to integrate and fully test the biometric verification systems. The Commission has warned that non-compliance will be met with strict consequences, including license suspensions or refusal of renewals, stressing that enforcement will be applied “rigorously without exceptions.”

The Commission has highlighted fraud prevention and the elimination of underage gambling as central objectives of the policy. Regulators also pointed to the need for greater transparency, citing persistent concerns over potential money laundering and untracked financial flows in the sector. By tying every gambling transaction to biometric data, authorities will be able to more effectively detect and trace irregular activity.

In addition to curbing fraud, the mandatory biometric process is expected to reinforce safeguards around responsible gambling. Regulators will gain the ability to monitor risky betting patterns, enforce spending limits, and uphold exclusion programs for individuals who have opted out of gambling.

The biometric mandate forms part of Ghana’s broader national digital strategy, which incorporates identity-based verification across multiple regulated industries to improve oversight and accountability.

By fLEXI tEAM