Tax on online, phone betting

THE Government is to introduce a tax on online and telephone betting as a means of financing the bloodstock industry.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said: “I believe such support should continue to come from the proceeds of betting duty. All forms of betting including betting offered over the internet, other remote platforms or over the telephone should make a contribution.

“Such betting must be brought within the tax net, not just because it will increase revenue, but also because it will mean that those not contributing to securing the future of important indigenous industries will make that contribution.”