Key Moments:
- The Ghanaian government is advancing a plan to channel betting and lottery revenue into a National Sports Fund
- The strategy relies on reallocating funds from the existing betting and gaming market, not imposing new taxes
- The Fund aims to resolve persistent funding gaps for athlete support, infrastructure, and sports programs starting in 2026
Government Strategy Links Sports Growth to Gaming Sector
Ghana is on the verge of transforming its approach to financing sports by tapping into the nation’s expanding betting and gaming market. The proposed National Sports Fund is intended to provide enduring support for athletes, competitions, and facilities using income generated within the existing betting and lottery ecosystem. The plan steers clear of new taxation, seeking to secure stable resources for the sector without increasing the cost burden for citizens.
Diversified Revenue Streams Underpin the Fund
At the heart of the model is the redirection of revenue that already circulates within Ghana’s betting and lottery industry. The forthcoming Sports Fund Bill identifies fourteen potential sources of funding, ranging from contributions by sports betting operators and sports lotteries to sponsorship agreements, athlete transfer fees, event gate receipts, certification fees, vendor payments, parliamentary allocations, grants, and donations.
A particularly significant portion is expected to come from betting-related revenue, with contributions from leading operators such as betPawa and SportyBet. Ghana’s betting sector has experienced notable growth, and the government’s intention is to harness this momentum to underpin the future of national sports.
Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu has emphasized the plan’s avoidance of new taxes, focusing instead on funds already produced by gaming activities and sports-related products. He stated that the Cabinet has already approved the initiative to establish a Sports Development Fund. This structure enables reliable resource collection from industry activity while remaining tax-neutral for individuals, aligning with Ghana’s move to abolish the ten percent tax on betting winnings earlier in 2025.
Transforming Funding for Athletes and Facilities
This initiative is designed to address the longstanding financial instability affecting national sports programs. For many years, teams in Ghana have contended with unpredictable funding for training, travel, and facility improvement. The proposed Fund is intended to mitigate this instability by aggregating resources from betting revenues and sponsorships into a dedicated pool.
If approved, planned areas of support include:
- Development for elite athletes
- Youth and grassroots sports initiatives
- Facility construction and upkeep
- Support for domestic competitions and international participation
- Sports science and medical programs
The framework is structured to create a direct link between the success of the betting sector and the strengthening of Ghana’s sports landscape, with transparent mechanisms for collecting and distributing resources.
Pioneering Legal Adoption of Betting Revenue for National Sports
If the Parliament enacts the Bill, Ghana could become among the first African countries to establish a legally defined bridge between gaming revenue and sports development on a nationwide level. Unlike sponsorship models in use elsewhere, this plan seeks to formalize a sustainable, statutory relationship between betting activity and the country’s sports outcomes.
This shift aims to introduce stability for government funding, instill a social responsibility mandate within the gaming sector, and provide the sporting community with an answer to chronic underfunding.
Outlook: Market Growth and the Future of Sports Funding
As Ghana’s betting market grows, supported by technological adoption and an increasingly youthful population, the success of the Sports Fund will depend on the continuation of these trends into early 2026. If industry expansion persists, this funding model may become a blueprint for other nations. Conversely, if market conditions change, the Fund may require adaptation to continue meeting sports sector needs.
| Potential Revenue Sources for the Fund |
|---|
| Sports betting operator contributions |
| Sports lotteries |
| Sponsorship deals |
| Athlete transfer fees |
| Gate receipts |
| Certification fees |
| Vendor payments |
| Parliamentary allocations |
| Grants and donations |
- Author
Daniel Williams
