LI Network
Published on: December 10, 2023 at 00:55 IST
The West Bengal government has successfully passed a bill to impose a 28% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on online gaming, horse racing, and casinos. This legislative move comes as the state government notifies the West Bengal Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023.
The Bengal legislature, in a session held on Thursday, approved the measure to elevate the GST rate from the existing 18% to 28% for activities related to internet gaming, horse racing, and casinos.
The revised GST rates for these activities have been in effect since October 1, 2023, following similar implementations by several other states.
Upon council approval of the proposal, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that online gambling, horse racing, and casinos will now be subjected to a 28% face value tax under the amended GST law.
The move reflects a broader trend among states to regulate and impose higher taxes on such activities, aligning with efforts to address financial concerns and societal impacts associated with online gaming and gambling.