Will there be a point-of-consumption tax for online gambling in Australia?

The purpose of the point-of-consumption tax, according to tax policy experts is to minimize the harm of online gambling in Australia

The federal government of Australia announced the possibility for introductinga point-of-consumption tax (POC) on online gambling. Scott Morrison, Federal Treasurer,has already discussed this idea with officials from states and territories across the country. In a statement for the Australian media, as gambling news report, Morrison claimedthat agreement had been reached to “move forward to prepare a proposal for a nationally consistent approach to point of consumption tax on online gaming”.

Is this yet another restriction of online gambling in Australia?

According to Morrison the aim of the proposed legislative is minimising gambling-related harm for consumers and national sporting bodies and it is not “about raising revenue for revenue’s sake”.Morrison did not set a date for when the new laws might come into effect, adding that the country’s state and territory governments need to examine the matter further.

The introduction of POC, as online gambling sites in Australia stress, comes right after the Australian Senate approved the changes in the online gambling laws outlawing internet poker and in-play sports betting.The Senate voted last week for these changes in the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016, including legislation that bans all online gaming activities of non-licensed operators within the national borders.