The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

UK betting exchanges face taxing future

Tax rules achanging...

Free whitepaper – Selecting an Industry-Standard Metric for Data Center Efficiency

Internet betting exchanges face a more taxing future - Chancellor Gordon Brown is expected to change rules to squeeze more cash from websites which allow punters to place bets with each other.

The changes follow a National Audit Office report which found online exchanges paid just £7.3m in tax last year despite taking bets worth more than £2.67bn. This compares to £376m paid by bookmakers on bets worth £30bn.

Quoting a "well-placed industry source", The Observer wrote yesterday: "The duty and the commission that exchanges make just doesn't add up. It's all pointing to the Treasury acting to stop this."

Traditional bookmakers now pay tax on gross profits rather than punters paying tax on their winnings. But increasing popularity of betting exchanges has reduced the amount of revenue Customs and Excise has collected.

The NAO also raised concerns that Customs needs more technical expertise to help it ensure new types of gambling are compliant with legislation.

More details here ®

Related stories

Punters warm to online poker
Amex prevents punters gambling online
Racing scandal hinges on Betfair records

Free whitepaper – Fundamental Principles of Air Conditioners for Information Technology

Don’t Miss

ToshibaToshiba plans new enterprise: High capacity 3.5-inch HDDs

Wants to be a bigger player in the big drive market

IBMIBM greases mainframe app pipe

System zware boost

acer logoAcer, Asus dominate Euro netbook biz

Canalys Mobility Forum Demand rises despite recession

Quantum logos 75x75Quantum's small tape libraries get big

At least a little