Ghana’s iGaming fraudsters innovating faster than regulators, Sumsub warns

October 4, 2025 in Business, Companies, Science and Technology, Technology & Telecoms by Editor

Ghana’s fast-growing iGaming industry is facing mounting pressure from fraudsters who are outpacing compliance systems, according to new findings from verification firm Sumsub. The company’s 2025 iGaming Identity Verification Report shows Ghana recorded one of the sharpest rises in fraud across Africa, even as the continent overall reduced fraud levels in the sector.

Ghana’s identity fraud rate across all industries climbed to 3.94pc in Q2 2025—well above Africa’s average of 2.27pc. In iGaming, the problem is more acute with fraud attempts surging from 2.33pc in Q2 2024 to 5.76pc a year later, more than doubling in just twelve months. By contrast, Africa’s iGaming sector as a whole saw fraud decline by nearly 15pc over the past two years as operators strengthened verification processes.

“Ghana’s numbers show a different trajectory from the continent,” said Hannes Bezuidenhout, Sumsub’s VP for Africa. “Fraudsters are innovating faster than compliance systems. This is a wake-up call for operators to close the gap with AI-driven solutions and continuous monitoring.”

Globally, iGaming fraud is accelerating. Identity fraud in the sector nearly doubled from 0.70pc in 2023 to 1.39pc in early 2025, with Latin America recording the steepest increases. Mature markets in Europe and North America also reported steady growth in fraud attempts.

Africa, however, remains an outlier. While fraud declined, the continent still carries some of the highest rates worldwide, with a 2025 average of 2.55pc. Verification pass rates—at 68.98pc—remain far below global benchmarks of 80–90pc, a gap that exposes operators to both fraud risks and revenue loss.

“Verification is both Africa’s strength and its bottleneck,” said Richy Emah, Sumsub’s Regional Director for North and West Africa. “The progress is visible, but Ghana’s experience shows how quickly fraudsters adapt when compliance systems lag.”

The report also highlights new fraud patterns. Attacks are increasingly timed for early-morning hours when compliance staff are thin on the ground, and 41.9pc of operators now report fraud peaking during deposit transactions rather than initial sign-ups. The spread of AI-driven deception, including deepfakes, has risen by 700pc in the past year, raising the stakes for under-prepared markets.

Across Africa, regulators are tightening the screws. South Africa has introduced tougher crypto transaction rules under its Travel Rule, Nigeria has expanded oversight of unlicensed betting platforms, and Kenya is linking operators with its national ID database. Ghana, by contrast, is under pressure to catch up.

“The choice is stark,” said Emah. “Operators in Ghana can either absorb mounting fraud losses or invest in AI-powered fraud prevention that secures revenues while improving player experience. The sustainability of Ghana’s iGaming sector depends on it.”