The controversial 5.3% turnover tax on online slots and poker stakes has been approved by the Bundestag

With Germany’s online casinos setting to become fully legal across Germany from the 1st of July, preparations are underway.

The bill which had been drawn up by the Federal Government has been approved by the Finance Committee this week.

The approved controversial bill has now set a 5.3% iGaming turnover tax under Germany’s new State Treaty on Gambling, the Glücksspielneuregulierungsta.

During the voting process the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian equivalent the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), as well as the Green Party all voted in favour. Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) voted against it whilst Die Linke abstained from voting.

Antje Tillmann, a financial policy spokeswoman for the CDU/CSU Bundestag parliamentary group, said in a statement: “With today’s law, we have passed a Germany-wide uniform regulation for the taxation of online games of chance such as virtual slot machine games and online poker.

Both online poker and virtual slot machine games will be taxed in the future, as will racing betting, sports betting, public lotteries, and draws. This means that online gaming will be taxed at 5.3 percent of the amount staked.”

She added that this tax is set to apply to both unlicensed and licensed games operating as even if a game of chance is operated illegally because there is no licence, taxation would still take place.

The EGBA commented saying that while taxes vary between states, land-based and online sectors in Bavaria would see a tax difference of €293.9m and slot halls seeing a €178.1m

Some argue that this turnover tax would lead players to gamble with unlicensed operators.

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