Casinos, Online Gaming and Race Course may be subject to 28% of GST

Casinos, Online Gaming and Race Course may be subject to 28% of GST

Reetu | Jun 27, 2022 |

Casinos, Online Gaming and Race Course may be subject to 28% of GST

Casinos, Online Gaming and Race Course may be subject to 28% of GST

During its meeting this week, the GST Council is expected to review a proposal from a group of state finance ministers to impose a 28% GST on online gambling, casinos, and horse racing.

Online gaming should be taxed at the entire value of the consideration, including the contest entry fee paid by the player upon playing in the game, according to a recommendation made by the Group of Ministers led by Meghalaya’s chief minister Conrad Sangma.

The GoM has proposed that GST be applied to the whole value of bets placed with bookmakers and pooled in totalisators on racecourses.

In casinos, GoM advised that the tax be applied on the entire face value of the chips or coins that a player has purchased from the establishment. The value of bets put in each round of betting, including those placed using winnings from earlier rounds, would not be subject to further GST.

The GoM has proposed adding a 28% Goods and Services Tax to entry/access fees to casinos, which automatically includes food, beverages, and other items.

However, sources added, optional purchases made apart from admission tickets will be subject to the corresponding tax rate.

Casino, horse racing, and online gaming services are currently subject to 18% GST. The technique for valuing the services would be chosen by the GoM.

A panel of state ministers was established by the government in May of last year to better assess the value of the services provided by casinos, online gaming portals, and racecourses in order to assess the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Rajat Mohan, senior partner at AMRG & Associates, claimed that the 28% tax rate on Online gaming, horse racing, and casinos would put them on par with many other sinful products like pan masala, tobacco, and bottled water.

Online gaming, horse racing, and casinos would be subject to gross revenue taxes rather than net value addition taxes, according to Mohan.

This approach might temporarily boost the exchequer, but in the long run, he added, it would attract the unorganised sector and encourage the widespread generation of black money.

The GoM report will probably be discussed at the GST Council’s upcoming meeting, which will be held in Chandigarh on June 28 and 29.

This idea might temporarily boost the exchequer, but it would also attract the unorganised sector, which would eventually result in a massive production of black money, he added.

Source: Economics Times

StudyCafe Membership

Join StudyCafe Membership. For More details about Membership Click Join Membership Button
Join Membership

In case of any Doubt regarding Membership you can mail us at [email protected]

Join Studycafe's WhatsApp Group or Telegram Channel for Latest Updates on Government Job, Sarkari Naukri, Private Jobs, Income Tax, GST, Companies Act, Judgements and CA, CS, ICWA, and MUCH MORE!"