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The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, which is expected to meet on August 2, 2023, will finalise draft rules on taxing online gaming, casinos, and horse racing. The council representing finance ministers of states will take a final call on whether the tax will be levied on entry-level or on each bet. 

In its 50th meeting earlier this month, the Council headed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman decided to levy the maximum 28 per cent tax on the full face value of bets in online gaming, casinos and horse racing.

The decision of the Council evoked criticism from the online gaming industry. Following this, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that GST Council should reconsider its decision. Chandrasekhar had said ‘We are still in the early stages of developing a sustainable and permissible online gaming framework. Once this framework is established, we will approach the GST Council and request their reconsideration based on the new regulatory guidelines.’