Betting Tax Was a Flop – Sammy Awuku Cheers its Removal
Ex-NLA Director-General Sammy Awuku Voices Strong Opposition to Failed Tax Policy
- Sammy Awuku criticizes the betting tax for being ineffective and encouraging illegal betting
- Awuku highlights the strain on the NLA
- Awuku points out contradictions within the NDC
Sammy Awuku, former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and current New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, has welcomed the government’s decision to abolish the betting tax, calling it a misguided policy.
Awuku, a longstanding critic of the tax, argued that it had been ineffective and counterproductive across various regions.
“I’m thrilled that the betting tax is being scrapped,” Awuku shared in an interview with Daily Guide Network (DGN). “I’ve consistently spoken against it, even during the NPP’s time in office, because such taxes on betting have never worked well in any region.”
He stressed the harmful impact on government institutions, such as the NLA, which faced the burden of both contributing to the national revenue and dealing with the negative effects of the tax.
“Lottery was part of the betting tax, and the NLA, being a government-owned entity, had to navigate this challenge,” Awuku explained. “Instead of supporting the system, the tax actually drove people toward illegal operators.”
Awuku highlighted how the tax made illicit betting more appealing, as illegal operators offered full payouts compared to the 10% tax on government-run platforms.
“Playing with the government costs you 10%, but if you bet with illegal operators, you keep all your winnings. It’s clear – this policy was counterproductive,” he said.
His critique also touched on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s stance, citing a past comment by the Finance Minister-designate who had suggested banning betting and lottery altogether, not just eliminating the tax.
