Sammy Awuku, former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, has expressed his excitement over the government's decision to scrap the betting tax.
A vocal critic of the tax even during the previous NPP administration, Awuku described it as a counterproductive measure that has failed to yield positive results in other jurisdictions. "I'm excited that the betting tax is going to be scrapped," Awuku stated 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 elaborated on the detrimental impact of the tax, particularly on the NLA, a government-owned entity. "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 explained.
This, he argued, created an unfair advantage for illegal betting operators, as players were more likely to choose operators who did not levy taxes on winnings. "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 continued. "If you play with the government, you attract a 10% tax on what you win.
