The Irish Government seems to have taken into consideration a new extra tax on betting in an attempt to raise approximately €50 million. Such a move would result into increasing the levy on gambling operators from 1% to 1.1%, which would raise a total amount of about €50 million, which are planned to be redirected to support gambling addiction services.
Reportedly, the cost of any extra levy introduced to the industry could also be passed on to customers.
John Halligan, Independent Alliance TD, had urged for the Government to officially present the new levy in the last Budget. The representative for Waterford unveiled that imposing such a measure is now being considered by the Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and also shared his belief that the measure will be passed, even though it was not one of the proposals made by Mr. Donohoe.
John Halligan Pushes for Betting Tax Increase
In an interview for the Irish Sun, the Minister of State explained that he eagerly lobbied for the extra tax on gambling to be introduced, explaining that the large betting shops currently pay a 1% tax, and the new levy amounts to 1.1%. As he shared, the change of 0.1% is not so large but it could bring approximately €50 million on an annual basis to nationwide services aimed at helping to gambling addicts.
Furthermore, he shared that gambling has become a huge problem over the past few years and reminded that the similar levy in the UK amounted to 1.5%. In his opinion, some of the most serious problems related to gambling are associated with excessive alcohol and drug use, as well as with problem gambling behaviour, with some gamblers even losing the mortgage on their house.
As revealed by him, the Finance Minister Donohoe has agreed to meet some people from addiction services.
Halligan further revealed that the amount which the residents of Ireland bet in 2016 totalled €2.2 billion. He once more reiterated and insisted that the additional 0.1% was not so much to ask, especially considering the benefits it could bring to local addiction services.
In addition, Mr. Halligam explained that the Independent Alliance had played a major role in the last budged, as one of the most important things done by them was the increased amount of money redirected to the Housing Assistance Payment.
Furthermore, he once again raised a red flag, saying things are difficult right now, due to the uncertainties related to the BREXIT, the ones of Trump and his position on taxes, as well as the ones related to the American and the Japanese markets. According to Mr. Halligan, this was one of the reasons why the Irish Government needs to make sure that the country’s industry is comfortable enough, so that plans for the future are made.
- Author
Daniel Williams
