UK Gambling Commission to review POC tax

UK Gambling Commission chief executive Sarah Harrison addressed the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Betting and Gaming this week, advising MPs that the Commission is reviewing the point-of-consumption tax on online gambling operators following two years of experience with the tax measure.

The Commission’s mandate is to study how effectively the tax administration framework and purpose has been, and whether any improvements need to be made.

“We see now as the right moment to reflect on the PoC regime and consider how well that is working,” Harrison said, outlining that the Commission review takes place against a backdrop of the UK government’s triennial review into FOBT stakes and prizes and advertising on TV, and a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) probe into the terms and conditions that surround bonuses and free bets (see previous reports).

The CMA conclusions would be important in informing the Commission’s review, Harrison observed, saying:

“Any output from that process will be drawn into our overall review.”