Unfair Tax laws for UK Gambling firms?
29th January, 2009
UK online gambling firms have always been highly taxed. However many industry experts believe the UK is at an unfair advantage with EU companies being taxed far less.
Many have called for EU gaming legislation to be applied to all country members creating an equal and balanced market place. Gambling industry consultant, Warwick Bartlett claims the tax policy implemented by the UK Government’s had gone “horribly wrong”.
Bartlett believes EU legislation should force players to pay tax depending on the country they live in, instead of where the operator they are using is based. Currently there's a lot of confusion with tax regulations in gambling as some operators based in tax free areas, such as Gibraltar. Bet 24 have recently received an gambling license from Gibraltar allowing them to provide tax free poker games.
This is expected to attract greater player numbers to the Scandinavian site.
It's believed larger numbers numbers of players would be attracted to playing at UK gaming firms if their tax rates were competitive with those on the continent.
EU firms as currently out performing and growing at a faster rate due to softer tax rates imposed in their industries.
By Jamie
