The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) has called on the government of Ireland for a fairer tax rate and one that includes all sectors of the gaming industry.
The Association said the tax structure must be fair to local bookmakers and keep the industry internationally competitive. The industry has seen a steep decline in profits in the last ten years.
Total stakes from 3.6 billion Euros in 2007 to 2.8 billion in 2016, while the number of retail establishments declined from 1,365 in 2008 to 851 in 2016. The IBA attributes this to “the economic collapse, penal betting tax, increased fixed costs, loss of revenue to illegal operators, and severe competition from internet-based betting platforms.”
The government is currently going through its annual budget review. The Tax Strategy Group has been assigned to consider a new duty structure and its possible impact on government revenues as well as the health of the bookmaking sector.
The IBA insists that moving the 1 percent tax from the bookmaker to the wagerer would be a poor option.
