The Maltese government has announced it will exempt bookmakers and betting exchanges from the country’s value added tax on event betting starting in 2018.
Under the new tax, which was published in the Government Gazette, bets on actual and virtual sports events, lotteries, competitions, performance of an index, and even natural phenomenon would also be exempted from the tax.
However, the exemption does not include bets on the outcome of casino table games, including blackjack, roulette, poker, or any other casino-style game of chance. Also, gambling services provided through the use of remote technology would still pay the VAT, according to a report at CalvinAyre.com.
Malta enacted the value added tax to satisfy a Council of Europe directive on the common system of VAT. According to the Council of Europe’s directive, a EU State may exempt betting, lotteries and other forms of gambling subject from VAT although such measures are still subject “to the conditions and limitations laid down by each member state.”
