Income tax rates for individuals in the UK are far higher, 20% and more, unless you’re earning under £11,850 per year, when it is 0%. £705mn only amounts to funding for one major infrastructure works project in the UK. The taxation rates for online gambling in the UK are fair and the profits made by the government from this activity aren. Currently, slot machine winnings are not taxed in the United Kingdom. The same goes for any other casino game. It doesn’t really matter if you win £5 or £5 million playing online slots, your winnings will be tax-free as long as you reside anywhere in the UK, be that in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland. Chancellor Gordon Brown announced that bookmakers would be taxed on their gross profits at a rate of 15%. He is scrapping the system in which the Government collects betting duty of 6.75% from. 0.5% of the UK’s adult population are problem gamblers. 15% of online gamblers have been gambling in the workplace in the past four weeks. 3.1% of gamblers have bet more than they can afford to lose. Gambling addiction is estimated to cost the UK between £260 million and £1.2 billion per year.

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Whether you gamble no more than a few quid per year or are an internationally known poker player, the United Kingdom is a great place to call home. Not only is gambling completely legal and fully regulated in the UK, but you’ll be able to keep whatever you win. Although it might seem hard to fathom, gambling winnings are tax free for players in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England. As you might expect, HM Revenue and Customs have no reason to cry poor, as they claim a sizable share by levying duties on gambling operators. Keep reading to learn all about the tax situation in Britain.

Is Gambling Taxable In The UK?

No, gambling is tax free in the UK. While players in some countries such as the USA, France, and Macau have to deal with gambling taxes between 1% and 25%, bettors in the United Kingdom have the privilege of keeping the entirety of their winnings. As a matter of fact, both online and offline gamblers in Britain don’t have to waste their time thinking about taxes. If you’ve been gambling for a while, you might recall dealing with betting duties years ago, except Gordon Brown, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time, scrapped that tax in 2001. Thanks to the sudden rise and perceived threat of offshore betting earlier this century, the government was effectively forced to enact several changes. Yet this move was just one of many important developments. The government also passed the Gambling Act 2005, established the UK Gambling Commission, and started regulating online casinos.

If you live in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, your gambling winnings are tax free whether you play live or on the internet.

Did you know the UK government makes a virtual killing from gambling? In the 2017-18 fiscal year alone, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs raked in £2.9-billion in gaming-related duty. Although that figure includes lotteries, betting, and live as well as remote gaming, that’s an astronomical amount. A great deal of that revenue comes from the 15% tax levy gambling operators must pay. While you don’t have to worry about paying taxes when you win or lose, the government does tax betting shops, poker rooms, casinos, and other related establishments on their profits. Even though players don’t pay these fees directly, in many ways they are built into the odds. Nonetheless, it’s nice that you can concentrate on playing your favourite games instead of dealing with complicated tax forms.

  • UK players do not pay taxes on their gambling winnings.
  • The previous betting duty was abolished in 2001.
  • Gambling sites now pay a 15% levy on their earnings.
  • The government netted £2.9 billion in gambling duties during 2017/18.
  • HMRC draws no distinction between pro and amateur players.
  • If you gamble outside of Britain you may need to deal with foreign tax laws.
  • The current tax code applies to online and offline betting.

Placing Your Bets Offshore

If you’ve gambled online, you’ve likely noticed that the industry continues to evolve. That’s true whether we are talking about the quality of the games, technological aspects like mobile betting, or regulatory and tax issues. As you might know, many of the sites that operate in the United Kingdom are based offshore. Some of these offshore operations were originally based in Britain, but quickly realised they could reduce their tax burden by locating their servers elsewhere and incorporating in a tax-free jurisdiction.

In order to counteract these moves, the UK Gambling Commission now requires all sites that welcome British customers to be fully licensed, whether they are physically based in Britain or elsewhere. In addition, these sites must also pay the same 15% tax as their British counterparts. Of course, as a player you won’t have to deal with these taxes. Nevertheless, a level playing field reduces the odds of the government making changes that negatively impact bettors.

Are Professional Gamblers Taxed On Their Winnings?

No - HM Revenue and Customs do not make a distinction between casual and professional players. Even if this may be subject to change in the future, at the present time gambling isn’t a recognised trade.

If you are a professional poker player, chances are you’ve already consulted with an accountant. Even so, there are a couple of points to consider. If you play outside of Britain, you may have to deal with local taxes. For example, if you win money in Las Vegas you could be subject to a federal withholding tax, although you can often apply for a refund as a non-resident. Also, if you become a poker celebrity and get paid for public appearances or representing an online cardroom, you could be subject to taxes but not on your winnings.

Keeping Records of Your Play

Although you don’t need to declare your gambling income on your tax return in the United Kingdom, successful poker players and other professional bettors often maintain personal records of their wins and losses. While this might seem like a waste of time since your winnings are tax free, there are a couple of benefits to keeping some sort of performance log.

It’s always smart to know how much you actually spend and win while gambling. Don’t you want to know how much profit you’ve made after you factor in your losses and other expenses like travel, meals, and lodging? If gambling is your sole source of income, you could end up raising several red flags if you drive to the shops in an Aston Martin. Having gambling records will be ample proof that you aren’t hiding income from taxable sources.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gambling Taxation in the UK

How much are gambling winnings taxed?

Gambling winnings are not currently taxed in the United Kingdom. Instead, casinos and other betting sites pay taxes on their profits. Remote gaming operators currently pay a 15% duty. Unless you plan on operating a casino, this will be of little concern to you.

Is gambling income taxable?

If you are a resident of the United Kingdom, your gambling income won’t be taxed. Unlike other countries such as the USA, you’ll be free to keep whatever you win in Britain even if you are a professional poker player. At the same time, you can’t deduct any losses you might accrue.

How much money do you have to win at a casino to pay taxes?

It doesn’t matter if you win £20 playing fruit machines or £2-million in a poker tournament. Your winnings will be tax free if you live in Britain.

Are blackjack winnings taxed?

No - If you live in the United Kingdom, you won’t need to pay taxes on any money you win playing blackjack.

Are gambling winnings taxed in Scotland?

No - Scottish players can win big without worry about taxes. If you live or gamble in Scotland, you can keep whatever you win.

Will my winnings be taxed if I live in Northern Ireland?

No - You won’t need to pay taxes on your gambling winning if you are a resident of Northern Ireland.

Do I have to pay tax on gambling in England?

No - As a player, you are not required to pay tax on gambling winnings in England. The government does generate sizable revenue from betting, as casinos, bookmakers, and other licensed gambling operators do pay taxes on their profits.

Are gambling winnings taxed in Wales?

No - Gambling winnings aren’t taxed in Wales. You’ll be able to keep whatever you win whether you bet online or at a local venue.

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Taxes on gambling is one of the main issues for any online casino operator. It largely determines both jurisdiction and the regions of operation. Gambling business is usually taxed according to the legislation of a particular country. The gambling taxes are often much higher than in other commercial areas.

Gambling tax rates by state

Where do the gambling taxes go?

Many governments have long understood that online gambling cannot be eradicated through direct bans and blocks. On the contrary, gambling legalization brings large budget replenishment to the country. Therefore, most of the developed countries have implemented the tax regulation of online gambling in recent years.

What is more, many states oblige the casino players to pay income tax on gambling winnings. Budget revenues from gambling are usually spent on the social sphere, the development of tourism or national projects. Let's consider the current tax rates in several countries for both B2B and B2C sectors.

Russia and Eastern European countries

Online gambling is banned in many Eastern European countries, particularly in Russia and Ukraine, aside from some forms of gambling, such as betting or lottery.

Recently, online gambling was legalized in the Republic of Belarus. Now, in accordance with the new law, Belarusian operators can legally run the gambling business on the Internet. The tax is levied on legal entities operating within the Republic of Belarus, as well as on simple partnerships, foreign and international organizations.

According to Art. 309 Part 1 of the Tax Code of the Republic of Belarus:

'Gambling tax rates are set in the following amounts per unit of taxation object: BYR 7 140.95 on the gaming table; BYR 241.53 on the slot machine; BYR 2 250 on the betting terminal; BYR 1 500 on the cash register of the bookmaker office. If payers use a gaming table that can be connected to a special computer cash system that provides control over turnover in the gambling business, the tax on gambling specified above shall be reduced by 50%. '

Online betting and several lotteries are legalized in Russia. The tax rate for business is differentiated. For example, each processing centre of the bookmaker or the tote that accepts online bets is liable to tax in the amount of RUB 2.5 to 3 million.

Since recently, the Russian bookmakers began to deduct tax from the players. Now bettors don't need to learn how to pay taxes on the winnings, prepare tax returns and make payments.

Only winnings of RUB 15 000 or more are subject to tax. Rate: 13% for Russian residents and 30% for non-residents.

In Ukraine, only lottery business, monopolized by the state, legally operates online. Local players also pay identical tax rate on gambling winnings. It is 18% + 1,5%. Total: 19.5%. Moreover, the added rate is charged to support the army.

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UK

UK gambling operators pay a fixed tax rate of 15% of gross income. The players are fully exempt from win tax levies.

USA

Gambling Tax Rate Uk 2020

Each American state independently enacts laws concerning gambling business. Taxation of casinos is more applicable to land-based gambling establishments. Online casinos are prohibited in most US territory. However, online sports betting is legalized in the following states: West Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Mississippi and Pennsylvania.

Taxes for operators are also defined by the legislation of each state separately. One of the highest applicable rates is in Pennsylvania – 55%. Residents of the US pay 30% tax on the winnings.

South Africa

The issue of online gambling regulation in South Africa remains unsolved. It is still considered illegal regarding both operation and participation in gambling. Excluding sports bets and horse racing.

The standard corporate income tax in Africa is about 29%. Tax on gambling winnings to be paid by the players is 15%.

Australia

In August 2017, the Australian Senate approved the nationwide ban on online gambling. It influenced all the online casinos, poker rooms and bookmakers except local licensed operators. They will have to pay 15% gross income tax starting from 2019. And there is no tax on winning.

Mexico, Argentina

Gambling Tax Rates

Online casino is legalized in these countries. The operators have to obtain a gaming license from the local regulator to work in the region.

Mexican licensed operators must pay 30% tax. Moreover, the operators have to additionally pay 12% tax from the winning, while the players have to pay 6%.

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The income tax rate for gambling in Argentina is 41.5%. If the win exceeds 1200 Argentine pesos (approximately €48), the player must pay 31% tax.

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Penalties for tax evasion

Usually, sanctions for players come as fines. For example, the late payment of the tax implies the deduction of 5-20% of the overdue amount up to criminal prosecution in Russia.

Once illegal activities are detected, the tax authorities first impose a 5% fine of the unpaid amount for each month of delay. And if the amount of unpaid taxes exceeds RUB 900 000, you can end up behind the bars.

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In the USA, tax evasion is generally considered one of the most serious crimes. The established system of penalties provides for the recovery from the violator $100 thousand or the imprisonment up to five years.

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The operator can suffer from the tax evasion as well. Large fines that can put a company on the verge of bankruptcy, the suspension of activities, revocation of gaming license and criminal prosecution of the CEO and chief accountant.

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