asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish National Bookmakers Association have stated that English bookmakers are trading in Ireland, tax free; if he will introduce regulations to end this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Betting Tax.
28.
My Department is one of a number of Government Departments which have received representations from the Irish National Bookmakers Association in regard to what the association describes as tax free trading.
The expression "tax free" is intended to apply to the practice whereby certain bookmakers, both Irish and English, offer not to load the punter's stake with an amount, equivalent to the 10 per cent excise duty, normally collected thereon in bookmaking premises to compensate them for their own betting duty liability. Instead, in accordance with this practice, they draw on resources such as punters' winnings to offset their liability for betting duty. The bets are not, in fact, "tax free" as the bookmaker remains legally responsible for paying the excise duty on such bets, and therefore the question of introducing regulations to ensure collection of the tax does not arise.