Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Rank Group Plc has published proposals for the creation of a single regime of taxation for all betting and gaming activities in the UK.
In its publication entitled, ‘Responsible Taxation - Fairness, Simplicity, Sustainability’ Rank sets out the benefits of simplifying the current system, replacing the seven different regimes of taxation with one common rate of duty:
Under the proposals, a 15% rate of duty would apply to each of the activities currently governed by the Gambling Act, including sports betting, bingo, casino games, card room games, amusement machines and football pools.
The duty would be applied consistently regardless of whether the activity takes place in a land-based venue (such as a betting shop or bingo club) or via an offshore internet server.
Rank argues that the Exchequer could increase its tax take from the sector by imposing a 15% rate.
Ian Burke, chief executive of Rank said: “At the moment the gaming and betting activities of UK consumers are subject to a patchwork quilt of taxation, without any apparent logic or relationship to social policy.
“Some games are currently subject to a multiplicity of different tax rates, depending on where and how they are played."
“It is particularly concerning that the current system of taxation seems to be undermining the aims of the Gambling Act by imposing the highest rates of duty on those venues which provide the greatest degree of supervision and have the lowest rates of underage gambling.”