Increased Sports Betting Tax on the Table in Victoria, Australia

Posted on: May 3, 2023, 07:00h. 

Last updated on: May 3, 2023, 03:03h.

Erik Gibbs Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Gaming Business, Global Gaming.

Sports bettors in Victoria, Australia, could soon see unwelcome changes through state-licensed online sportsbooks. An effort is underway to increase the point of consumption tax (POCT) again, the second increase in three years.

The 2022 Melbourne Cup Trophy in front of the entrance to the race
The 2022 Melbourne Cup Trophy sits in front of the entrance to the race. Victoria is increasing its online sports betting tax to create more revenue for the horse racing industry. (Image: Dmarge)

The current POCT for the segment is 10%, but new legislation would increase it to 15%. While any new tax is never welcome, this would align the rate with what is found in New South Wales and Western Australia. The new rate would still be lower than Queensland’s 20%.

The legislative initiative began this week with the idea that any newfound money would help Victoria’s horse racing industry. If approved, the new POCT would take hold starting July 2024.

Victoria’s POCT for the online gaming segment emerged in 2019 to force gaming operators active in the state to contribute to the government. Until then, some foreign-owned companies avoided paying taxes there through a technicality.

By holding a license in Australia’s Northern Territory, the operators didn’t have to pay the state despite offering their services nationwide. That changed with the arrival of the POCT, although it was initially just 8%.

Closing Loopholes

In 2021, the rate moved up to 10%. With horse racing still struggling to recover from COVID-19, Victoria wants to increase the rate again to help offset some of the losses the segment has incurred.

When Queensland moved from 15% to 20%, it expected the new tax rate to provide a major windfall. In the 2020 fiscal year, the state’s racing industry took in AU$32.5 million (US$23.4 million). The 5% jump was to effectively increase it by 250%.

Victoria hopes to see similar results, although it hasn’t shared a specific goal in its projections. When it introduced the 8% POCT, it predicted AU$30 million (US$19.99 million) in new tax revenue.

Horse Racing Loses Ground

Victoria’s population is 1.6 million more than that of Queensland, and it’s home to several important races, including the Melbourne Cup, WS Cox Plate, and the Australian Cup. However, this doesn’t necessarily translate into more money.

Last year’s Melbourne Cup lost significant ground in attendance. Since before COVID-19, the average attendance has been dropping, with official data putting last year’s attendance at around 70K. This is much lower than the 102K from 10 years ago, though the 2022 Melbourne Cup had to deal with significant rain. The 2020 and 2021 events were virtual write-offs because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The good news for sportsbooks is that, although attitudes are changing, horse race betting is still a strong option. Some 72% of Australians surveyed by The Guardian said the Melbourne Cup is a major part of Australia’s identity. That’s 6% less than the figure from the same survey in 2019. Even so, betting is on the rise.

The same survey found that 47% of the respondents would place a wager on the race. That’s 11% higher than in 2020 and 5% better than in 2021.