Online betting companies and OPAP agents on the gambling tax are on the rails
The companies in the industry express their strong reaction to the intentions of the government to increase the taxation of the players of the online games.
"Undersecretary of Finance Mr. Vesyropoulos expressed his intention, suddenly, without any prior information or consultation, to impose additional taxation on online gamblers, as another 'easy solution' to cover public revenue," the statement said. signed by Bet365, Betshop, Bwin, Interwetten, Netbet, Novibet, Sportingbet, Stoiximan, Vistabet and Winmasters
It is noted that since the entry into force of the new, stable framework of online games in Greece, in 2021, for the second time in six months, the Ministry of Finance imposes additional taxation on online games, in other words changing once again the operating conditions market, which is a direct distortion of it.
Gaming companies also note:
"In fact, the tax comes in addition to the high cost of 5 million euros paid by companies to obtain an operating license in Greece and a tax of 35% on their income, one of the highest taxes in Europe, while companies generate total revenue. for the state from taxation - direct and indirect - exceeding 350 million per year.
In addition, the imposition of additional taxation, as evidenced by all relevant European examples, indirectly leads to the strengthening of the illegal market, which to date both the new regulatory framework and the actions of the EEEP have reduced to zero.
The loss of players from licensed companies / providers to the illegal market, as a result of additional taxation, entails an automatic reduction of public revenues and at the same time a significant blow to the operation and competitiveness of the market and companies.
The companies operating in Greece are the main blood donors of Greek sports, with the majority of professional teams, professional championships and athletes representing the country in international events and the Olympic Games being financially supported by them, covering in many cases the inability of the state to finance the Greek champions.
They support sports infrastructure, having in the last year alone, on private initiative, built and modernized more than 20 sports venues, supporting organizations and agencies with social intervention, while at the same time being key advertisers, spending more than 100 million annually, creating multiple benefits for greek economy.
The companies in the market are one of the most important employers in the country, employing thousands of young people, mainly people, in sensitive sectors such as technology, while they are on the list of leading Greek employers in Greece and Europe.
We understand that our market is the 'easy solution', without a negative communication impact for the Deputy Minister of Finance, who as a result does not realize that the additional taxation is a distortion of the market itself and will ultimately lead to a reduction in revenue for the state .
The online gaming market is one of the fastest growing in Greece and is producing ever-increasing benefits for public revenue, sports, the job market and society.
The change in the rules of its operation, without prior consultation or relevant study, with arbitrary acts, with dubious results, such as the imposition of additional taxation, is unaware of reality and proves that healthy growing industries are the easy prey of an administration. which on paper favors entrepreneurship and competition ”.
Strong reaction of OPAP agents - Letter to the Ministry of Finance
In a letter to the competent Deputy Minister Apostolos Vesyropoulos and the OPAP agents, they express their vertical opposition to any increase in the players' profit tax. As they characteristically state: "With great surprise, we were informed by the management of OPAP, after today's meeting with officials of the Gaming Supervision and Control Committee, about the intention of the Ministry of Finance to proceed with significant increases in the taxation of players' profits. causes the fact that the Ministry promotes the doubling of the tax rates on the profits of players in the number games owned by our agencies (from 2,5%, 5% and 7,5%, to 5%, 10% and 15% respectively), as well as the increase of the respective coefficients on the winnings of the players from betting products (from 2,5%, 5% and 7,5%, to 3%, 6% and 9% respectively).
As POEPPP, we must express our deep dissatisfaction and opposition to this sudden and untimely action, which directly affects the revenues and viability of the 4.000 OPAP agencies and their approximately 20.000 employees, at a time when our stores are still subject to in strict restrictive measures for the pandemic.
Unfortunately, we are witnessing tax irrationality again and we are reliving the events of 2020, when in the middle of a lockdown, the Ministry proceeded to adopt the new scale of player taxation, going from taxation per column, to taxation per ticket, with a rate of 2,5%, % and 5%. Then, as today, OPAP agents were excluded from any consultation process. And then, as today, none of the data we provided you was taken into account.
By the end of 2020, we had pointed out that the new tax scale would lead to significant burdens for players, leading many of them to illegal gambling and causing blows to the revenues of the State and the income of OPAP agents, who have "knelt" from ongoing economic and health crisis.
We assume that the reason you intend to proceed with rate increases is that the expected revenue to support sports teams has not been achieved. If with the initial scale you set, the goals were not achieved, what makes you believe that you will achieve them now, when additional charges are created for the players and the illegal gambling benefits again?
As in 2020, so today, we reiterate that taxation of winnings per ticket alters the physiognomy, odds and winnings of column games, ie number games and betting. Large-scale taxation, even for small amounts - as promoted by the new scales you intend to impose - is plagued by so-called "game recycling", a practice in which some players re-play some of the money they have won, which is directly related to the turnover and viability of our stores.
After all, from the data and studies that we have at our disposal and that we had brought to your attention again, it turns out that the results of such tax practices are completely contrary to expectations. In most countries internationally (for example Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, etc.) there is not even a tax on players' profits, so that they remain in the legal gaming networks and prevent serious social problems. At the same time, all these countries recognize that the strengthening of state revenues can be achieved by combating illegal gambling - a direction that we believe the Greek state and government should follow.
Apart from the above, the fact that the Ministry is promoting new, worse changes causes a particularly unpleasant impression when the scale that is in force today, was implemented only in July 2021.
In conclusion, we reiterate our belief that the promoted changes bring another blow to our industry, targeting all of our revenue (number games and betting). As a POEPP, we refuse to accept that our views and substantiated views are ignored once again.
Balanced solutions must be found immediately, with respect for all. We demand an immediate meeting with you and a review of the measures that are coming to further hurt our industry, which is receiving backlash from your misguided choices ".
SOURCE capital.gr
The companies in the industry express their strong reaction to the intentions of the government to increase the taxation of the players of the online games.
"Undersecretary of Finance Mr. Vesyropoulos expressed his intention, suddenly, without any prior information or consultation, to impose additional taxation on online gamblers, as another 'easy solution' to cover public revenue," the statement said. signed by Bet365, Betshop, Bwin, Interwetten, Netbet, Novibet, Sportingbet, Stoiximan, Vistabet and Winmasters
It is noted that since the entry into force of the new, stable framework of online games in Greece, in 2021, for the second time in six months, the Ministry of Finance imposes additional taxation on online games, in other words changing once again the operating conditions market, which is a direct distortion of it.
Gaming companies also note:
"In fact, the tax comes in addition to the high cost of 5 million euros paid by companies to obtain an operating license in Greece and a tax of 35% on their income, one of the highest taxes in Europe, while companies generate total revenue. for the state from taxation - direct and indirect - exceeding 350 million per year.
In addition, the imposition of additional taxation, as evidenced by all relevant European examples, indirectly leads to the strengthening of the illegal market, which to date both the new regulatory framework and the actions of the EEEP have reduced to zero.
The loss of players from licensed companies / providers to the illegal market, as a result of additional taxation, entails an automatic reduction of public revenues and at the same time a significant blow to the operation and competitiveness of the market and companies.
The companies operating in Greece are the main blood donors of Greek sports, with the majority of professional teams, professional championships and athletes representing the country in international events and the Olympic Games being financially supported by them, covering in many cases the inability of the state to finance the Greek champions.
They support sports infrastructure, having in the last year alone, on private initiative, built and modernized more than 20 sports venues, supporting organizations and agencies with social intervention, while at the same time being key advertisers, spending more than 100 million annually, creating multiple benefits for greek economy.
The companies in the market are one of the most important employers in the country, employing thousands of young people, mainly people, in sensitive sectors such as technology, while they are on the list of leading Greek employers in Greece and Europe.
We understand that our market is the 'easy solution', without a negative communication impact for the Deputy Minister of Finance, who as a result does not realize that the additional taxation is a distortion of the market itself and will ultimately lead to a reduction in revenue for the state .
The online gaming market is one of the fastest growing in Greece and is producing ever-increasing benefits for public revenue, sports, the job market and society.
The change in the rules of its operation, without prior consultation or relevant study, with arbitrary acts, with dubious results, such as the imposition of additional taxation, is unaware of reality and proves that healthy growing industries are the easy prey of an administration. which on paper favors entrepreneurship and competition ”.
Strong reaction of OPAP agents - Letter to the Ministry of Finance
In a letter to the competent Deputy Minister Apostolos Vesyropoulos and the OPAP agents, they express their vertical opposition to any increase in the players' profit tax. As they characteristically state: "With great surprise, we were informed by the management of OPAP, after today's meeting with officials of the Gaming Supervision and Control Committee, about the intention of the Ministry of Finance to proceed with significant increases in the taxation of players' profits. causes the fact that the Ministry promotes the doubling of the tax rates on the profits of players in the number games owned by our agencies (from 2,5%, 5% and 7,5%, to 5%, 10% and 15% respectively), as well as the increase of the respective coefficients on the winnings of the players from betting products (from 2,5%, 5% and 7,5%, to 3%, 6% and 9% respectively).
As POEPPP, we must express our deep dissatisfaction and opposition to this sudden and untimely action, which directly affects the revenues and viability of the 4.000 OPAP agencies and their approximately 20.000 employees, at a time when our stores are still subject to in strict restrictive measures for the pandemic.
Unfortunately, we are witnessing tax irrationality again and we are reliving the events of 2020, when in the middle of a lockdown, the Ministry proceeded to adopt the new scale of player taxation, going from taxation per column, to taxation per ticket, with a rate of 2,5%, % and 5%. Then, as today, OPAP agents were excluded from any consultation process. And then, as today, none of the data we provided you was taken into account.
By the end of 2020, we had pointed out that the new tax scale would lead to significant burdens for players, leading many of them to illegal gambling and causing blows to the revenues of the State and the income of OPAP agents, who have "knelt" from ongoing economic and health crisis.
We assume that the reason you intend to proceed with rate increases is that the expected revenue to support sports teams has not been achieved. If with the initial scale you set, the goals were not achieved, what makes you believe that you will achieve them now, when additional charges are created for the players and the illegal gambling benefits again?
As in 2020, so today, we reiterate that taxation of winnings per ticket alters the physiognomy, odds and winnings of column games, ie number games and betting. Large-scale taxation, even for small amounts - as promoted by the new scales you intend to impose - is plagued by so-called "game recycling", a practice in which some players re-play some of the money they have won, which is directly related to the turnover and viability of our stores.
After all, from the data and studies that we have at our disposal and that we had brought to your attention again, it turns out that the results of such tax practices are completely contrary to expectations. In most countries internationally (for example Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, etc.) there is not even a tax on players' profits, so that they remain in the legal gaming networks and prevent serious social problems. At the same time, all these countries recognize that the strengthening of state revenues can be achieved by combating illegal gambling - a direction that we believe the Greek state and government should follow.
Apart from the above, the fact that the Ministry is promoting new, worse changes causes a particularly unpleasant impression when the scale that is in force today, was implemented only in July 2021.
In conclusion, we reiterate our belief that the promoted changes bring another blow to our industry, targeting all of our revenue (number games and betting). As a POEPP, we refuse to accept that our views and substantiated views are ignored once again.
Balanced solutions must be found immediately, with respect for all. We demand an immediate meeting with you and a review of the measures that are coming to further hurt our industry, which is receiving backlash from your misguided choices ".
SOURCE capital.gr
