Belgium approves VAT for gaming

Lotteries and land-based casinos are exempted from the new tax.

Belgium.- Belgium’s government has set a new gaming legislation to add the Value-Added Tax –VAT– to online gambling services. The latest decision ended with the VAT exemption the industry had been under.

The removal of the broad-based VAT exemption was proposed a month ago, early in June, and now the National Chamber of Representatives has officialised it. The economic and gaming regulation establishes that lotteries and land-based casinos are not included in the payment group.

The Finance Minister of Belgium has published a statement to announce the entry into force date of the new law since August 1, 2016, in order to give online gaming operators some time to reorganise their economic status. The Ministry added that guidance will be issued in due course to explain the practical aspects of the new law.