Australia’s largest gambling business, Tabscorp (TAB), is working with anti-industrial groups Alliance for Gambling Reform and Australian Hotel Association to raise taxes for online gambling operators.
A newly established industry group, named Aussie Fair Play Coalition (AFPC), will work with other states to follow Queensland’s leadership in the harmonization of taxes paid by online and land operators.
The group points out the fact that online businesses are primarily foreign-affiliated companies, and therefore argues that unfair tax rates unfairly disadvantage domestic businesses. Some online operators are from Australia, but the majority are not based in Australian territory.
This discussion is not new. Victoria introduced the first sales tax (POCT) in 2019 in response to concerns that foreign-owned bookmakers are not paying Australian taxes.
Currently, POCT is 10% in New South Wales and Victoria and 15% in the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia. On the other hand, there are various operations on land. The totalizer tax is set at 19.11%, while poker machines (Pokies) are taxed at 65%.
Following the Queensland ruling Adam Rytenskild, TAB’s Chief Executive Officer said: On a relative basis, TAB now pays twice as much to the local racing industry as other gambling operators. “
“From now on, everyone in Queensland will pay the same amount. We praise the Queensland Government for providing fair and highly needed reforms to align the gambling market with the modern economy. To do.”
