- Irish MP complains that €40m has been lost in gaming revenues after delays in introducing new legislation.
- The government blamed the delay on the requirement to submit the bill for approval to the EU Commission.
- The new bill will require poker operators targeting the Irish market to obtain a license and pay a 1% turnover tax on the income from their Irish customers.
Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath complained in the Irish parliament that delays in enacting proposed gaming legislation had so far cost the state €40m in lost revenues.
The Betting (Amendment) Bill was proposed in July last year.
The government responded that the bill had been submitted to the EU, which imposed a statutory three month waiting period while it considered the bill’s compliance with EU treaties.
Mr McGrath’s figures are based on expected gaming turnover of €4bn on which a new 1% tax will be levied. The new bill will require operators targeting the Irish market to obtain a remote bookmaker’s license from the Revenue Commissioner, and they will then be subject to taxes on their Irish customers.
The Finance Minister will also have the power to add an additional levy which will be directed to a “Social Fund.” Other features in the draft text includes advertising restrictions that would strictly limit bonuses and other inducements to play higher volumes.
The bill is now expected to come into force before the end of the year.
