Breaking the Odds: Ghanaian Women Speak Out on the Hidden World of Sports Betting

Sports betting in Ghana is no longer a pastime reserved for men. A growing number of women are now staking their chances in what was once considered a male-dominated domain. But behind the flashing odds and tempting wins lies a complex story of hope, loss, and survival. Two women, whose real names have been withheld for privacy, shared with The High Street Journal their contrasting journeys in the world of betting.

For Ama Benson, betting began with a scroll through social media. The screenshots of winning slips flooding her timeline were irresistible.
“It was through social media, especially when people post their winning slips,” she said. “Typically, it’s a source of income. You can gain a lot from relatively small amounts,” she said.

Ama describes betting as part of her daily routine, one that feels almost ordinary. “It’s just like a normal day. It’s all about going to the betting site, selecting odds through predictions, and staking.”

For her, betting is more than a game, it’s a calculated chance at quick financial gain. Yet, she admits the experience comes with emotional highs and lows. “Financially, it’s a win or loss. Sometimes I win hugely, and at times I lose as well. Emotionally, it’s sad when a single match doesn’t play out well,” she said.

Despite her steady participation, Ama keeps her betting habits private, fearing societal judgment. “Because of gender stereotypes, you need not expose it. They see it as a male-dominated avenue, so it’s funny to them seeing a female bet,” she explained.

When asked if she ever felt conflicted about betting, Ama was confident in her stance. “I don’t because it’s a game of chance. It’s either a win or a loss, and most importantly, I stake an amount I can afford to lose.” For her, her goal is “To win hugely and take a break.” she said.

But for Grace Labi, another woman who once found herself deeply involved in betting, the story takes a different turn. One that spirals from excitement to regret.

Grace was first introduced to betting as a university student. “Back in level 200, my close friend was obsessed with betting. She convinced me she was winning enough to pay her fees and buy things. They always tell you the best part but never the dangers,” she recalled.

What began as curiosity soon became costly. “It affected my finances a lot. I lost huge sums of money, thousands of Ghana cedis that I should have invested or saved,” Grace confessed. Her biggest win, she said, was GHC 1,700, but the losses far outweighed the gains.

“I was thinking I’d get it back in thousandsfold, but unfortunately, I never won anything big,” she said, adding that her boyfriend at the time was a frequent winner, which made her feel like she was doing something wrong.

Eventually, the frustration became unbearable. “I realized I wasn’t making any money out of it. I was rather losing money. It was too much on my side and uncomfortable, so I had to advise myself,” she said.

Grace has since quit betting, though she occasionally uses free bets when offered by platforms like SportyBet or 22Bet. “Now, I don’t put money in at all. I just use the free bets for fun,” she said with a laugh.

Reflecting on her experience, Grace believes betting can make money for some people, but at a heavy cost for others. “Everybody and what works for them. One man’s meat is another man’s poison,” she said. “Some people are very good at it, but I was just wasting money.”

Both women’s stories highlight the growing but largely hidden participation of Ghanaian women in sports betting. A space still shrouded in stigma, secrecy, and stereotypes. For some, like Ama, it represents financial freedom and strategic risk-taking. For others, like Grace, it becomes a cycle of false hope and financial strain.

As the betting industry continues to expand across Ghana, driven by digital access and aggressive marketing, these stories raise an important question: is betting becoming an alternative means of survival, or just another illusion of quick wealth?

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