According to Majesty E.K. Ofori, president of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA)’s Student Representative Council (SRC), female students in Ghana are defying convention by partaking in sports betting.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show, Ofori revealed that some female students have turned to gamble as a result of their financial difficulties.
In Ghana, betting is typically seen as a pastime for men, but Ofori claimed that some female students bet on basketball and football teams, even if they might not be familiar with the odds and other specifics.
Mr Ofori also pointed out that learning how to bet has turned into a school unto itself. The majority of young people, however, do not agree with the government’s recent decision to levy a 10% tax at the point of payout on winnings from lotteries, games of chance, and sports betting. They now depend on gambling as a source of income, therefore taxing it will lower their income.
“Some of the ladies engage in betting to some extent even though they may not know how to arrange the odds and other technicalities involved. They bet on the football teams and basketball”, he said in an interview on GTV.
Recall that a few days ago, it came to light that the government revealed its intention to impose a new 10% tax on all winnings from gambling, games, and lotteries. Many Ghanaians, especially the young, who partake in gambling, have voiced their strong opposition to the new tax.
Ghanaian sports bettors have since expressed displeasure at the government’s move to levy taxes on lottery and sports betting.
Some bettors said, “I could lose all my bets in a year so if I should win one day and then 10 percent is deducted, it actually means that I have lost.
“Honestly, it is not fair. We are suffering because the system is not any better so taking away 10 per cent of my bet wins is not a good thing
