Lawmaker puts forward project that would double tax on online gambling in Buenos Aires
The Buenos Aires legislature will consider a project to raise the tax on online gambling, which currently pays half the taxes compared to land-based gambling in the city. The Civic Coalition is seeking to increase the tax. Currently, companies pay only 6% compared to the 12% paid by physical gambling establishments. In the Province, online games are taxed at 15%, more than double that of the Capital.
The project was proposed by Facundo del Gaiso. One of the central points of the proposal is the specific allocation of the revenue generated to strengthen public policies aimed at combating gambling addiction. “It is not just about collecting more; it is about dedicating those funds to addressing an issue that affects more and more families,” Del Gaiso said.
According to the text of the bill: “The proliferation of games via mobile phones, tablets, or other similar devices, supported by increasingly powerful and autonomous connectivity schemes, has transformed the systems of marketing and exploitation, while also necessitating a redefinition of public actions for their regulation and oversight.
“Different studies show the negative health consequences for individuals when gambling progressively takes up more time in their lives, potentially leading to addictive behaviour. This is particularly true for online gambling, as its main characteristic is that it can be played from anywhere, at any time, and it is anonymous.
In April through his Twitter account, Del Gaiso questioned the tax rate on the sector and warned: “Online gambling cannot have any special treatment.”
