State Duma deputies from the “A Just Russia – For Truth” faction will submit a bill to the chamber of parliament, which proposes to double taxes on the gambling business; RIA Novosti has a copy of the document.
The co-author of the bill was the party leader, State Duma deputy Sergei Mironov. As the agency was informed by the party’s press service, the corresponding bill will be submitted to the State Duma for consideration on Friday.
The explanatory note to the bill says:
It seems necessary to increase taxes on the gambling business in view of the excess profits received by entrepreneurs from this type of economic activity in 2023.
It is proposed to set tax rates within the following limits: for one gaming table – from 100 to 500 thousand rubles, for one slot machine – from 6 to 30 thousand rubles, for one processing center of a bookmaker’s office or totalizator – from 100 to 500 thousand rubles, for one processing center of interactive bets of a totalizator – from 4 to 5 million rubles, and for one such center of interactive bets of a bookmaker’s office – from 9.5 to 10 million rubles. Also, the draft proposes to set a tax rate of 20 to 28 thousand rubles for one point of acceptance of bets of a totalizator or bookmaker’s office.
In the event that tax rates are not determined by laws of the subjects of the Russian Federation, taxation is provided for by the draft at the following tax rates: for one gaming table – 250 thousand rubles, for one slot machine – 15 thousand rubles, for one processing center of a bookmaker’s office or totalizator – 250 thousand rubles, for one processing center of interactive bets of a totalizator – 4.5 million rubles, and for one processing center of interactive bets of a bookmaker’s office – 9.5 million rubles. In addition, a tax of 24 thousand rubles is proposed for one point of acceptance of bets of a totalizator or a bookmaker’s office.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Mironov specified that, on average, for each area of the gambling business, the deputies of the Duma faction of the SRZP propose to raise taxes by two times. He said:
Our party has repeatedly proposed increasing taxation of casinos and bookmakers, which is completely justified. Suffice it to say that in 2023, the income of the largest Russian bookmakers increased by 2.5 times.
According to Mironov, the revenue of Fonbet doubled to 435.6 billion rubles per year, and net profit amounted to 59.2 billion rubles. Another major player in the Russian market, Winline, as the politician noted, saw its revenue increase by 6.5 times to 277.3 billion rubles, and net profit doubled to 26.9 billion rubles.
The parliamentarian said:
In general, in 2023, the income of Russian bookmakers increased by 39% compared to the previous year and amounted to 1.224 trillion rubles.
The deputy emphasized that the gambling business does not create any additional product, since it is a means of redistributing funds, which, in turn, increases social inequality in Russia. At the same time, the leader of the SRZP believes that the expansion of the gambling business is a negative trend for society, since it leads to an increase in the number of citizens suffering from gambling addiction.
He recalled that taxes from the gambling business go to regional budgets, and they are currently experiencing an acute shortage of funds. Mironov concluded:
Accordingly, increasing taxes will lead to a reduction in the budget deficit. These funds can be directed to the development of education, health care, support for citizens with low incomes, participants in the special operation and their families.
