Online betting operator supports proposed levy

ONLINE betting and gaming giant Betfair has become the latest bookmaker to move its operating licence from Britain to Gibraltar, to avoid Britain’s high tax rates; but the company has added it is fully supportive of the proposed 2% levy on online operators in Ireland.

The latter should come as welcome news to other operators, particularly Paddy Power, who have welcomed the tax as long as it can be imposed on all players and not just those domiciled in Ireland.

For its part, Betfair — which is moving its overall tax base to Gibraltar in order to avoid Britain’s 15% tax on gross betting profits — said the Irish online tax will be “a positive step”.