A gaming control board (GCB), also called by various names including gambling control board, casino control board, gambling board, and gaming commission) is a government agency charged with regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined geographical area, usually a state, and of enforcing gaming law
Gaming Commission license Applications
The conditions for granting of a Licence by the Gaming Commission of Ghana as stipulated states, ‘‘a person qualifies for a Licence if that person:
a) Has an identifiable office
b) Has a service mark logo registered with the registrar of Companies
c) Has the required minimum stated capital (Assets and Property) of
US$2,500,000 (Casinos), US$ 2,000,000 (Sports Betting), US$ 1,500,000
(Route Operation) and has agreed to maintain the amount of cash or cash
equivalent determined by the Commission
d) Has submitted a tax clearance certificate, and
e) Is partly or wholly Ghanaian owned.
Upon meeting the conditions above, the applicant shall write officially to the Commission to apply for a License.
Applicant must attach copy of:
(i) Business Proposal
(ii) Certificate of Incorporation
(iii) Certificate to Commence Business Directors of the company shall be required to complete Personality Note (PN) and Anti-Money
Laundering (AML) forms shall be submitted to the Security Agencies for background checks and Vetting.
The Commission shall introduce applicants to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for criminal checks to be conducted. In the case of foreign applicants/directors, the introduction shall be made to INTERPOL, Research Department of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the Financial Intelligence Centre
(FIC).
The Commission may also carry out further due diligence beyond Ghana’s borders on foreign
national applicant(s).
Based on the reports received from the Security Agencies and the Commission has satisfied itself with the fit and proper test, a Gaming License shall either be granted or refused.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
I. Not-withstanding, the Commission shall satisfy itself with but not limited to the following:
a. The identity (ies) of new applicants
b. The passports or any national ID of the applicant(s).
c. The business registration documents.
d. conduct further due diligence on senior managements
II. Details of game software system/information on software providers (i.e. Name and country of Origin).
LICENSE RENEWAL-PROCESS
i. The Commission shall send a letter two (2) months before License expiration, outlining the renewal process.
ii. Notwithstanding (i), it is the operator’s responsibility to apply for the renewal of a license before the expiration date.
Operators are obliged to inform the Commission of any changes in their inventory and operations.
iii. Pass Fit and Proper Test.
iv. Submit Tax Clearance Certificate.
v. Complete and submit an Anti Money Laundering Form to prove a source of funds or additional funds.
vi. Clearly indicate the Direct Beneficiary of Company.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF GAMING LICENCE
CLASS LICENSE
CLASS ONE (1) CASINO
CLASS TWO (2) SPORTS BETTING
A. LAND BASED
B. ONLINE
C. BOTH
CLASS THREE (3) ROUTE OPERATIONS
CLASS FOUR (4) PROMOTIONAL GAMING
REMOTE GAMING (eg. Bingo)
CLASS FIVE (5) MOBILE OR INTERACTIVE GAMING
a. Class one (1) – Casino
b. Class two (2) – Sports Betting i.e. Land-based, Online Betting, or both
c. Class three (3) – Route Operations
d. Class four (4) – Marketing promotional gaming with elements of Games
of Chance i.e Bingo, Raffles, Virtual Gaming, etc
e. Class five (5) – Mobile or Interactive Gaming