Sammy Awuku, former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, has praised the government’s decision to abolish the controversial betting tax.
Awuku, a long-time critic of the policy, reiterated his opposition to the tax, describing it as counterproductive and ineffective. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Guide Network (DGN), he said:
“I’m excited that the betting tax is going to be scrapped. I’ve been consistent about it, even during the NPP era, and I said it is something that personally has not worked in many of the jurisdictions anytime you have introduced taxes on betting.”
Awuku explained that the tax had adverse effects, particularly on government-owned institutions such as the National Lottery Authority, which already contribute to national revenue. “Lottery was part of the betting tax. The National Lottery Authority, for instance, is owned by the government, and apart from the things that they do, at the end of the day, they must also contribute to the national kitty,” he stated.
He further highlighted how the tax unintentionally strengthened illegal betting operators, making them more attractive to players. “If the government is taxing itself, then what will happen is that the underground operators that we call the illegal operators will become emboldened.
“If you play with the government, you attract a 10% tax on what you win. But if you play with the illegals, you get your full money. So, I told them that, for me, it was counterproductive,” he added.
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Awuku also called out what he sees as inconsistencies in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s approach to betting and lottery regulations. He recalled earlier statements by the Finance Minister-designate, suggesting an outright ban on betting and lottery activities.
“The difficulty with the NDC position is that earlier the Finance Minister-designate, in time past, had said that it should be banned—not just the tax being scrapped,” Awuku remarked.
The scrapping of the betting tax has been widely welcomed, with many stakeholders hopeful that it will help address issues in the industry while reducing the appeal of illegal operators. Awuku’s consistent stance reflects his advocacy for practical and effective policies within the gaming sector.
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