GST of 28% to be levied on casinos, race course, online gaming

The Group of Ministers tasked with reviewing the Goods and Services Tax rate on casinos, race courses and online gaming has decided to hike the rate to 28% from the current 18%

Representational image | Photo Credit: Getty Images

The panel of ministers tasked to review the GST levy on casinos, race courses and online gaming has finalised its report, which will be taken up in the upcoming GST Council meeting.

The Group of Ministers, chaired by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, had in its previous meeting earlier this month unanimously decided on hiking the tax rate on these services to 28%.

The GoM met again on Wednesday and finalised the method of valuing these services for the purpose of levying this tax.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) on casinos, race courses & online gaming has come to a consensus.

The report of our submissions will be handed over to Hon'ble FM, Smti. @nsitharaman Ji in a day or two & the matter will be presented in the next @GST_Council Meeting @FinMinIndiapic.twitter.com/n3Zm0yHSbl

— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) May 18, 2022

Currently taxed at 18%

At present, services of casinos, horse racing and online gaming attract 18$ GST.

The government had in May last year set up a panel of state ministers for better valuation of services of casinos, online gaming portal and race courses for levying Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The report of the GoM is likely to be taken up in the next meeting of the GST Council expected later this month.

Other state ministers in the eight-member GoM include Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Patel, Goa Panchayati Raj Minister Mauvin Godinho, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister P. Thiagarajan, Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Khanna and Telangana Finance Minister T. Harish Rao.