GST tax slab: 28% GST on casinos, horse racing, online gaming?

The Committee of Ministers came to a decision on how much Goods and Services Tax (GST) should be levied on casinos, race courses and online gaming. It has prepared a final report stating that 28 per cent GST should be levied on these. The report is likely to be discussed at the forthcoming GST Council meeting and a formal decision will be taken.

It is learned that the GST Council has set up a Committee of Ministers to discuss issues related to GST on casinos, race courses and online gaming in the country. The committee, headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, met in the first week of this month. The committee unanimously decided to impose a 28 per cent GST on casinos, racecourses and online gaming. Recently the Committee of Ministers met again and prepared a final report on this.

"The Committee of Ministers has reached a consensus on GST on casinos, race courses and online gaming. We will submit the report to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a couple of days, ”Sangma said on Twitter. The report will be discussed at the GST Council meeting later this month.

Casinos, race courses and online gaming currently charge 18 per cent GST. The committee was set up in June last year to assess the value of these services and to look into the issue of taxing their specific transactions. The panel of ministers took into account the legal provisions and court orders on the relevant matters. The committee also recommended possible changes to existing laws to implement new assessment methods for casinos, race courses and online gaming.