Karnataka Cabinet to take up Ordinance to tax online games at 28% GST

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

GST law to tax online gaming, casinos and racecourse at 28% rate as the state cabinet is expected to consider a draft Ordinance on Thursday.

The Finance department has moved the subject to the Cabinet for consideration, senior officials confirmed. The Haryana Assembly too, last month, amended the law, taking the lead.

Elevate Your Tech Process with High-Value Skill Courses

The southern state is taking the ordinance route in view of the urgency to meet the October 1 deadline the GST Council has fixed to roll out the new tax rate. The Centre has already completed its part by amending the laws by placing the bills before the Parliament, last month, while expecting the states to do their bit early.
Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who represents Karnataka on the GST Council, said the states cannot afford to delay the amendment. «If the decision is made after such a thorough process, it would be appropriate that we move to implement the decision at the earliest. Public interest demands that we move at the earliest to give effect to the decision. In fact, further delay would be contrary to public interest,» he told ET.
The Council, he added, deliberated on the matter for about two years and took a view after prolonged and exhaustive discussion.
The GST Council, at its meeting on July 11, decided to tax online gaming, casinos and racecourse at 28% on the full-face value of bets. At a subsequent meeting on August 2, the