Effective October 1, 2023, online gaming, casinos, and horse racing will be subject to a 28% Goods and Services Tax (GST). This taxation will be levied on the full face value of bets placed in these activities, as mandated by recent amendments to the existing GST laws.
Key takeaways
- A 28% GST will be implemented for online gaming, casinos, and horse racing.
- The GST will be applied from October 1, 2023.
- The tax will be levied on the full face value of bets.
- The new tax regime is due to recent amendments in GST laws.

What happened
The decision to levy a 28% GST on these sectors stems from changes made to the Goods and Services Tax laws. This amendment clarifies the taxation structure for activities involving betting and gaming.
The move aims to standardize the tax treatment for these industries under the GST framework, ensuring a consistent approach across different forms of online and offline gaming involving real money.
Indian context
This development is significant for the Indian online gaming and gambling landscape. The implementation of 28% GST on the full face value of bets could impact operators and players within the country.
It represents a clear regulatory stance from the government regarding the taxation of these activities, affecting business models and potentially player engagement in India.
Source: NDTV — read the full original report.

