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Ireland to Tax Online Gaming

Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen Announces Tax on All Forms of Online Gambling

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Ireland from SpaceAccording to RTE, Taoiseach Brian Cowen recently announced that the Government will be taxing online betting of all forms.

Legislation is to be brought in which will see the introduction of licenses for overseas betting providers in order for them to be permitted to sell their products in Ireland.

Cowen said, "This will have the additional benefit of facilitating the extension of the tax regime for the betting industry to all those providing online and telephone betting and so underpin funding for the racing industry.

“Such betting must be brought within the tax net, not just because it will increase revenue, but also because it will mean that those currently not contributing to securing the future of important indigenous industries will now make that contribution.”

Last year, Minister for Sport Martin Cullen threatened to ban online poker and gambling in Ireland if bookmakers did not pay more money to the Exchequer for the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. This tax alternative could now be seen by some as the lesser of two evils.