Bookies launch campaign against Australian PoC tax

Betting operators including Ladbrokes have joined together to oppose the new gambling duty proposed in South Australia, alleging that the point of consumption tax will make the state the most expensive place to bet in the world.

The umbrella Australian Wagering Council (AWC) has acted after the state’s Treasurer, Tom Koutsantonis, revealed last month his plan to introduce a new 15% duty on the net wagering revenue of betting companies offering services in South Australia.

The AWC has dubbed the proposed duty, which is due to be introduced from July 2017, a '15% Punters' Tax’.

A ‘stop the punters tax’ social media campaign has been launched by AWC members, including Bet365, Sportsbet and Unibet.

AWC chief executive Ian Fletcher said: “The government has brought to the parliament an ill-considered new tax, without consulting the community, which will hit the leisure activities of South Australians, damage the state’s racing and sporting industries by targeting their participants, and play into the hands of unscrupulous overseas operators who do not have an investment or interest in South Australian sport and recreation.”

The South Australia government expects the tax to raise Aus$9.2 million (€6.3 million/$7 million) each year in revenue from the new measure.

Koutsantonis said that the bookmakers were running a scare-campaign against the place of consumption tax.

He said: “The place of consumption tax is not a tax on punters, it only applies to net wagering revenue. In other words, the money that is lost to these companies by South Australians.

“The place of consumption tax is not a tax on punters, it only applies to net wagering revenue.”

Related article: South Australia reveals country’s first interstate gambling tax