Until 2024, Ghanaian punters funded their betting accounts with Vodafone Cash. The wallet still works exactly the same way today, but it now carries a different name — Telecel Cash — after Telecel Group’s rebrand of Vodafone Ghana. It’s a small detail, but it matters when you’re comparing bookmakers: a site’s payment page listing “Vodafone Cash” instead of “Telecel Cash” is often a sign the operator hasn’t updated its Ghana-facing content in a while, which is worth noticing before you trust it with a deposit.
That’s the kind of practical detail this list focuses on. Every bookmaker below holds an active 2026 licence from the Gaming Commission of Ghana (GC), the sole regulator for betting and casino operators under the Gaming Act, 2006 (Act 721). For the full breakdown of how Ghana’s licensing system works, what it means for player protection, and which authority to check before you sign up anywhere, see our dedicated guide to licensed betting sites in Ghana. Here, we go one step further and compare the licensed operators themselves: licence scope, mobile money support and app access, ranked side by side.
How We Picked These Sites
Every operator on this list appears on the Gaming Commission’s official 2026 register, with licences running from 1 January to 31 December 2026. We cross-checked each entry against the regulator’s own published list rather than relying on a bookmaker’s own marketing claims — the same approach outlined in our review methodology. From there, we compared three things punters actually ask about: whether the licence covers sports betting only or sports betting plus online casino, whether MTN Mobile Money and Telecel Cash are supported for deposits and withdrawals, and how each app is actually distributed.
1. 1xBet
- Licence: Gaming Commission of Ghana — Sports Betting and Online Casino
- Mobile Money: MTN Mobile Money, Telecel Cash
- App: Android app distributed as a direct APK download rather than through the Google Play Store
1xBet is one of the few operators on this list licensed for both sports betting and online casino under the same registration, which widens what you can do on a single account without needing a second platform.
2. Betway
- Licence: Gaming Commission of Ghana — Sports Betting and Online Casino
- Mobile Money: MTN Mobile Money, Telecel Cash
- App: Android app available as a direct download from Betway’s own Ghana site, with installation guided through the site rather than a third-party store
Betway keeps its combined sports and casino licence active for 2026, and its app distribution runs through its own domain — worth knowing if you’re wary of downloading betting APKs from unfamiliar sources.
3. SportyBet
- Licence: Gaming Commission of Ghana — Sports Betting
- Mobile Money: MTN Mobile Money, Telecel Cash, AirtelTigo Money
- App: Android-only, downloaded via the official SportyBet site rather than the Play Store; the operator recommends Android 8.0 or later for a stable install
SportyBet’s licence covers sports betting only, not casino — a distinction worth checking if you’re after table games or slots alongside football markets.
4. BetPawa
- Licence: Gaming Commission of Ghana — Sports Betting and Online Casino
- Mobile Money: MTN Mobile Money, Telecel Cash
- App: Android app downloadable via the operator’s own Ghana site or a QR code; unavailable on the Play Store, like most betting apps in this market
BetPawa’s dual licence mirrors Betway’s and 1xBet’s — sports and casino under one registration — which is worth factoring in if you want both without juggling accounts.
5. 22Bet
- Licence: Gaming Commission of Ghana — Sports Betting
- Mobile Money: MTN Mobile Money, Telecel Cash
- App: Android APK, distributed directly rather than through the Play Store, in line with the rest of the market
Like SportyBet and MelBet below, 22Bet’s 2026 registration is for sports betting specifically, not a combined casino licence.
6. BetWinner
- Licence: Gaming Commission of Ghana — Sports Betting and Online Casino
- Mobile Money: MTN Mobile Money, Telecel Cash, AirtelTigo Money
- App: Android APK available via the operator’s site, following the same sideload pattern as the rest of this list
BetWinner holds the combined sports-and-casino licence, putting it in the same bracket as Betway, 1xBet and BetPawa on scope.
7. MelBet
- Licence: Gaming Commission of Ghana — Sports Betting
- Mobile Money: MTN Mobile Money, Telecel Cash, AirtelTigo Money
- App: Android APK, direct download, no Play Store listing
MelBet rounds out the sports-betting-only group alongside SportyBet and 22Bet — all three stick to sportsbook licensing rather than adding a casino registration for 2026.
Licensed Doesn’t Mean Identical
Seven operators, one regulator, but two different licence types. 1xBet, Betway, BetPawa and BetWinner cover sports betting and online casino under the same registration; SportyBet, 22Bet and MelBet are registered for sports betting only. That distinction decides whether you can play casino games on the same account you bet football with, or whether you’d need a second licensed platform for that.
Mobile money tells a more uniform story: MTN Mobile Money and Telecel Cash are supported across every operator on this list, with AirtelTigo Money as a frequent third option. None of the seven currently list their Android app on the Google Play Store — all distribute through direct APK downloads from their own sites, a pattern tied to Play Store’s restrictions on betting apps rather than anything specific to Ghana.
For readers comparing licensing frameworks across the region, our South Africa licensed bookmakers guide covers a very different, provincial model, while Senegal’s licensed picks and Nigeria’s licensed bookmakers show how national-regulator structures elsewhere on the continent compare to Ghana’s Gaming Commission. For the full current list of ranked bookmakers across markets, see our Best Bookmakers hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to bet online in Ghana in 2026?
Yes, as long as the platform holds an active licence from the Gaming Commission of Ghana, the regulator established under the Gaming Act, 2006 (Act 721). See our licensed sites guide for how to verify a licence directly.
Which mobile money networks can I use to deposit on Ghana betting sites?
MTN Mobile Money and Telecel Cash are the two most widely supported networks among the licensed operators above, with several also accepting AirtelTigo Money.
Why isn’t Telecel Cash called Vodafone Cash anymore?
Telecel Group acquired a majority stake in Vodafone Ghana and completed the rebrand of the business — including its mobile money arm — to Telecel by early 2024. The underlying wallet and number work exactly as before; only the name changed.
Can I download these betting apps from the Google Play Store?
No. All seven operators compared here currently distribute their Android apps as direct downloads from their own websites rather than through the Play Store, which restricts betting-app listings in many markets.
Thabo Ndlovu is a passionate sports analyst with extensive knowledge of African football, sports betting trends, and online bookmakers. He covers major leagues, betting tips, match predictions, and responsible betting for sports fans across Africa.
