Treasurer Should Tax Pokies More to Repair Budget: Greens
The Treasurer should increase taxes on poker machines in pubs and clubs across NSW to help repair the budget if the government is deferring increasing taxes on Star Casino out of concerns for workers, said Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and gambling harm reduction spokesperson.
“We can’t afford for the Treasurer to be taking it easy on the gambling industry while the NSW budget is facing a $7 billion black hole,” said Cate Faehrmann.
“If the Treasurer must delay increasing Star’s tax rate then the Government needs to increase taxes on poker machines across pubs and clubs to help repair the state’s budget.
“With no pre-election agreements signed between Clubs NSW and the major parties this time, now is the perfect time to increase taxes on poker machines. It’s time pokies were taxed more, particularly because of the significant harms they cause.
“NSW levies one of the lowest taxes on pokies profits in the country. Shifting towards a Victorian-style tax regime could net NSW hundreds of millions in additional revenue.
“There are clubs making super pokies profits with so much money they’re gold plating their bathrooms yet they’re paying an average tax rate of around just 20%.
"Increased taxes on the gambling industries' obscene pokies profits are long overdue to ensure pubs and clubs are making a fair contribution to the state,” said Cate.
NSW Taxes on poker machines
- Clubs poker machines are taxed between 18.05% and 28.05% on poker machine profits but pay an average of around 20%.
- Hotels pay between 33% and 50% on poker machine profits but pay an average of around 35-37%.
- Gaming machine tax | Revenue NSW
Victoria Taxes on Poker Machines
- Clubs pay between 0% and 60.67% on poker machine profits
- Hotels pay between 8.33% and 65% on poker machine profits
- Gaming machine entitlements | Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria