Goa Cabinet Approves Amendments to Gaming Tax Regulations

The Goa regional cabinet has approved amendments to the Goa Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, aiming to clarify the tax regulations for casinos, horse racing, and online gaming. This development, reported by The Times of India, precedes the upcoming budget session of the assembly.

The amendments involve the repeal of the Goa Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, and the introduction of the Goa Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The government's intention is to streamline the tax framework for the gaming and gambling sectors, ensuring better regulatory compliance.

These changes are expected to bring much-needed clarity and transparency to Goa's taxation regime in these industries. Despite this move, India's Finance Ministry has indicated that the 28 percent GST rate on gaming will likely remain unchanged. Gaming companies are currently required to pay 28 percent GST on each bet, while industry stakeholders advocate for an 18 percent tax on gross gaming revenue (GGR) or platform fees.