Sammy Awuku, the former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, has commended the government's decision to abolish the controversial betting tax, describing it as a step in the right direction. Awuku, a staunch critic of the tax, maintained his opposition even during the previous NPP administration, labeling the measure as counterproductive and ineffective based on its performance in other countries."I'm excited that the betting tax is going to be scrapped," Awuku shared during an interview with Daily Guide Network (DGN). "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 detrimental implications, particularly for the NLA, which is a government-owned entity tasked with generating revenue for the state. "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 said.
Read Also: Betting Tax is a Nuisance Tax; Scrapping it Will Not Affect the Economy – Finance Minister-DesignateHe argued that the tax created an uneven playing field between the NLA and illegal betting operators, as the latter offered players untaxed winnings.
This disparity, he added, drove more players towards underground operators, undermining government revenue. "If the government is taxing itself, then what will happen is that the underground operators that we call the illegal operators will become emboldened," Awuku noted. "If you play with the government, you attract a 10% tax on what you win.
