Parliament Passes Bill to Levy 28 Percent GST on Online Games; Offshore Gaming Firms to Need Registration
Parliament on Friday approved amendments to the Central and Integrated GST laws to levy 28 percent tax on the full face value of bets in online gaming, casinos, and horse race clubs.
The Central GST (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Integrated GST (Amendment) Bill, 2023, piloted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, also make registration mandatory for offshore e-gaming companies operating in India. It also provides for blocking of access in case offshore platforms fail to comply with GST registration and tax payment norms.
The CGST amendment bill defines 'online gaming' as a game on the internet or an electronic network.
'Online money gaming' means online gaming in which players pay or deposit money, including virtual digital assets (VDAs), in the expectation of winning money or VDAs, in any event including game, scheme, competition, or any other activity, whether or not its outcome or performance is based on skill, chance or both.
With the amendment to GST law, horse racing, casinos, and online money gaming will be treated as actionable claims similar to lottery, betting, and gambling.
Sources said casual online gaming, which does not involve money or any consideration, will not be taxable under GST.
The amendments will aid in combating money laundering, illegal income, black money, and other illegal activities associated with online gaming and curb evasion, they added.
The bill was approved by both Houses of Parliament without any discussion.
With the passage of CGST and IGST amendments, states will now have to effect similar changes in their state GST laws in their respective assemblies.
The amendments were approved by the GST Council, chaired by Sitharaman and comprising state ministers, last week.
The amendments
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