The GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has recommended increasing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on casino gambling from 28% to 40%. The hike applies to a broad range of activities, including admission to casinos, race clubs, and sporting events such as the IPL, as well as “specified actionable claims” like betting, online money gaming, horse racing, lotteries, and other gambling activities.
The council also proposed corresponding changes to lottery valuation rules to align with the new GST rates.
This move is part of the government’s ongoing effort to streamline taxation on high-value entertainment and gambling sectors while increasing revenue from these industries.
The recommendation will now undergo the formal approval process before being implemented nationwide.