South Australia preps POC tax scheme

The South Australia Treasury has been tasked with preparing an online gambling tax scheme that will charge online gambling operators on the location of its customers wagering, mirroring the current UK POC charge.

The treasury estimates that +70,000 South Australian have wagered using online gambling services, the agency will look to re-structure current online gambling policies in order to raise a potential AUS $50 million (£26 million) per year in state funding.

The tax scheme has been positively met by the South Australia Council and state social services. Council members noted that at present South Australia and other states were losing vital tax funding from Australian consumers wagering with online gambling operators.

Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has been tasked with leading the South Australia initiative. Speaking to The Advertiser Koutsantonis commented

“Currently we charge authorised interstate online betting operators a small annual fee. Authorisation allows interstate betting operators to advertise and conduct betting operations in South Australia.”

“But under the current tax regime, these online betting services pay no tax because they are not based in South Australia. I have asked my department to look at such a model in which we will report back to the other states mid this year and discuss how such a model might work nationally.”

Australia licensed online gambling operators have yet to comment on the actions taken by the South Australian treasury.