Western Australia slugs online bookmakers with new tax

[The Buzz]

According to a report in The Australian, Western Australia has increased pressure on online bookmakers with the introduction of a new wagering tax, which the sector warns will be passed onto punters.

From the report:

The state government announced in its budget yesterday a 15 per cent point of consumption tax, which is similar to a tax South Australia introduced in July this year.

Responsible Wagering Australia said it was disappointed by the Western Australian government’s move given it had agreed to participate in the Federal Government’s national wagering tax plan.

The industry body argued that the new state tax would see Australian-licensed online wagering operators paying an effective tax rate of more than 40 per cent on revenue from customers in WA, making the state among the highest taxing jurisdictions in the world for wagering products.

“The WA Government’s decision needlessly puts at risk the potential of achieving nationally harmonised approaches to taxation and consumer protection in the wagering industry,” the RWA said in a statement.

RWA’s executive director Stephen Conroy said the WA government’s decision to go it alone would force operators to pass on the additional costs to WA consumers.

“The resulting downturn in wagering in the state will result in lower returns to the state’s racing industry and an increased reliance on government funding,” he said.

Read the entire article here: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busi...802ae29eca9019

[matthewt]

15% is too much to make money, for punters. They will go underground and use illegal sites to avoid the fee.





However, it is a regulation that someone wants to see in existence. So let's see what it does after a year or so. Only time will tell.

[Sherlock]

I hope so. Illegal sites need affiliates more than legal ones.