Poll results: Italy's 22% betting tax fair

Italy’s plans to switch its turnover-based online betting levy to a 22% tax on revenues is fair and represents an improvement on the current system, according to the narrow majority of respondents to last week’s eGaming Review poll.

Last Monday eGR reported a late amendment to the country’s Stability Law saw plans to implement a flat 20% online tax across all verticals shelved so betting is taxed at the slightly higher rate of 22%.

With the bill expected to be passed this week and the tax becoming effective from 1 January 2016, eGR asked whether you believed the 22% tax represented a good and fair deal for Italy-facing sportsbooks.

And in what was a closely contested poll, 54% of respondents said the 22% revenue tax was a good deal, particularly considering the fact it will replace a turnover levy widely considered to be a restrictive tool.

However, not all are completely satisfied with the outcome. While Remote Gambling Association chief executive Clive Hawkswood said he was pleased the tax would be one based on revenues, he added he was still waiting to hear why the government had decided to tax betting higher than other verticals.

“The proposed difference between betting and gaming still hasn’t been explained adequately and hopefully good sense will prevail,” he said.

And 46% of respondents appeared to agree with Hawkswood when stating that they believed the new tax rate to be prohibitive and disproportionate.