Karnataka government on September 29 promulgated an ordinance to amend Karnataka Goods and Services Tax Act to impose 28 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on online money gaming, casinos, and racecourses, following Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's assent.
The move comes ahead of the Union government's planned implementation of the tax regime from October 1.
Will not legalise casinos and gambling
The notification stated that these amendments do not override existing laws that may prohibit, restrict, or regulate betting, casinos, gambling, horse racing, lottery or online money gaming.
The imposition of taxes on casinos, horse racing and online money gaming does not legitimise these practices in the eyes of the law. Any criminal activities associated with these practices are not exempt from criminal prosecution, as clarified by the ordinance.
India gears up for Oct 1 tax rollout
This move comes after the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Chairman Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said on September 28 that the government is ready to implement 28 percent GST on real-money gaming from October 1.
“States need to pass in their assemblies or issue ordinance by September 30 to implement 28 percent GST on online (real-money) gaming from October 1,” he said.
In July 2023, the GST Council decided to impose the top GST slab of 28 percent on the full face value irrespective of whether it is a game of skill or chance.
On August 2, it provided partial relief by recommending that GST be levied on deposits instead of every bet placed, in order to avoid repeat taxation. Real-money gaming platforms currently pay an 18 percent GST on platform fees.
The council, headed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, had said it would review this decision six months after implementation. The next GST Council meeting is scheduled to take place on October 7.
On August 11, the last day of the Monsoon Session, Sitharaman introduced bills to amend the Central and Integrated GST laws and it was passed in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. President Droupadi Murmu also gave her assent to the amendments on August 19.
Subsequently, many states including Haryana, Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh have passed similar amendments to their respective state GST laws.
Source: Money Control
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/karnataka-notifies-ordinance-for-28-gst-on-real-money-gaming-11453431.html
