The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has urged the Gaming Commission of Ghana to implement strict measures to prevent underage gambling, according to myjoyonline report.
The Minister for the Interior said the need to safeguard the future of the youth has become necessary because instead of being in school, they end up at gambling centres.
“The underage participation in gaming is something I want you to take very seriously. We cannot gamble with the future of our youth. So I want to urge you that as part of your work please make sure that we put in measures that will prevent underage individuals from participating in gaming,” the minister further admonished.
The minister further emphasised that the Commission, which was established under the Gaming Act of 2006 (Act 721), played a crucial role in licensing, monitoring and supervising gaming operators to ensure compliance with the law.
He said that as gaming and betting evolve, it is essential to review the current regulatory framework to address emerging trends and challenges.
First of all, this is a very important issue that the minister has raised and we fully support him.
Gambling, particularly sports betting, has become a pervasive issue among Ghanaian youth, with far-reaching social, economic and psychological consequences.
While gaming and betting companies contribute to the economy through taxation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, their rapid expansion has also led to growing concerns about addiction, financial ruin and the erosion of the country’s social fabric.
Many young people in the country are lured into gambling by the promise of easy money, the thrill of winning and peer influence. The normalisation of betting, fueled by aggressive advertising and technological accessibility has made it difficult to curb the rising addiction.
For many young people, gambling is not just a recreational activity but an escape from economic hardship. However, this escape often turns into a financial trap, with some students reportedly using their school fees to fund their betting habits.
A study on child gambling in Ghana found that boys were particularly at risk, with participation rates higher among those aged 14–17 years. The easy availability of betting platforms, both physical and online, has made it difficult to enforce age restrictions.
Gambling has severe economic repercussions at both the individual and national levels. Excessive betting diverts money meant for necessities such as food, education and healthcare, leading to financial instability. Cases of employees embezzling funds to fuel their gambling addiction are on the rise.
Despite the existence of the Gaming Act of 2006 (Act 721), regulatory enforcement remains weak. Illegal gambling platforms continue to operate, evading taxes and exposing users to fraud. The rapid expansion of the betting industry has outpaced regulatory efforts, making it crucial for the government to implement stricter policies.
Beyond economic losses, gambling addiction has severe social consequences. Many families have reported cases of young people developing strained relationships with their parents and siblings due to gambling-related disputes.
The financial losses associated with gambling often lead to stress, depression and, in some cases, substance abuse. The psychological toll on young people can be devastating, affecting their ability to focus on their studies or maintain stable employment.
It is time for the government and betting companies, as a whole, to work together to strike a balance between economic benefits and social responsibility of gambling. If immediate measures are not taken to regulate gambling effectively, we risk losing an entire generation to addiction, financial instability and lost educational opportunities.
The time to act is now. The country cannot afford to gamble with the future of our youth.
