Taxes on gambling send the right message?

[Lanatsa]

With a high gambling tax it's going to make people think twice about their gambling activities but at the same time I have to agree with some of the posts mentioned above, it seems like there's no good solution in stopping gambling when there's so many ways to do it. At the end of it all might as well gain something out of it by putting a high tax, it might not be an effective solution to stop gambling but when you look at the overall picture it's better to have casinos around knowing they could somehow boost the economy.

For me this have two faces like negative and positive effect. If we will going to look on the negative side of this is that it might sound like implementing a high taxes on the gambling businesses or even in alcohol and cigarettes may sound rude at first but after all it is only implemented for the seek of people, I mean those people that are engaged in such doings are those very affected but it could boost the economy. While on the other hand, even implementation of high taxes didn't stop those people who are really into gambling or smoking and that is proven.

You mean "sake" of people? which is definitely true but that would really be definitely depending on how those taxes would be used up because not all government would really be having that kind of intent.

Not all government is really honest into their service and wouldn't be sure if they would corrupt it out or would really apply it for the sake of economic progress or enhancing it.

Yes, it might sound too much but those things are for the good and also addicted people will do engage into things that they've been addicted into.

[1714684303]

1714684303

[abel1337]

With a high gambling tax it's going to make people think twice about their gambling activities but at the same time I have to agree with some of the posts mentioned above, it seems like there's no good solution in stopping gambling when there's so many ways to do it. At the end of it all might as well gain something out of it by putting a high tax, it might not be an effective solution to stop gambling but when you look at the overall picture it's better to have casinos around knowing they could somehow boost the economy.

For me this have two faces like negative and positive effect. If we will going to look on the negative side of this is that it might sound like implementing a high taxes on the gambling businesses or even in alcohol and cigarettes may sound rude at first but after all it is only implemented for the seek of people, I mean those people that are engaged in such doings are those very affected but it could boost the economy. While on the other hand, even implementation of high taxes didn't stop those people who are really into gambling or smoking and that is proven.

You mean "sake" of people? which is definitely true but that would really be definitely depending on how those taxes would be used up because not all government would really be having that kind of intent.

Not all government is really honest into their service and wouldn't be sure if they would corrupt it out or would really apply it for the sake of economic progress or enhancing it.

Yes, it might sound too much but those things are for the good and also addicted people will do engage into things that they've been addicted into.

A high tax could prevent people from getting addicted by giving them fewer chances to gamble if it is their real intention but the current gambling addicts are the ones who will be affected especially if they don't really care about the tax they pay for each of the session they attend. It would be a real burden to them and the long-term effect might be good or bad knowing that they can easily go bankrupt in gambling and adding high taxes will make a toll on them.

[johhnyUA]

and, apart from countries that have strong social and religious restrictions (I refer to those as the death-by-boredom countries)

Dubai, as a part of UAE has strong social restrictions. But i would not call this city as "death-by-boredom"

However, other countries simply set high taxes to these activities, which I think is a false morality, as if by paying these activities can be less questionable. (Note: I personally do not question regulated gambling).

such business as gambling, has very low operational and investment cost, but enough big ROI. It's like "You invest 1 dollar and in result get 10". And because of grey morality of such businesses, government think that it will be not the worst idea to take higher taxes. So now you just get not 10 dollars in return, but 2. Fair enough as for me

[sunsilk]

It is because those countries are also discouraging their people to gamble and that's a double purpose for taxing them high. They get to stop those that are unable and get a huge taxation from doing so.

And that only means that only those people that has the capacity to gamble can remain to gamble even if they set the taxes high or the standards high. AFAIK, there's a country that only allows foreigners on their jurisdiction to gamble and not their citizens.

[Woodie]

Whatever reason the government has for imposing gambling tax on its citizens, afaik this can never deter people from this, maybe its trying to keep its citizens morally upright and preventing people from being gambling addicts or suppose some kind of religious reasons which could be right reasons but I think some governments have realized it's a good money making venture.

[Welsh]

A high tax could prevent people from getting addicted by giving them fewer chances to gamble if it is their real intention but the current gambling addicts are the ones who will be affected especially if they don't really care about the tax they pay for each of the session they attend. It would be a real burden to them and the long-term effect might be good or bad knowing that they can easily go bankrupt in gambling and adding high taxes will make a toll on them.

Tax shouldn't act as a way of persuading someone not to do something, even if that is gambling. Taxes should only be introduced where necessary, and while I would assume a lot of people would argue they are included in a lot of places where they are not necessary, they are generally for contributing to the community. For example, in the UK we have the national health service (NHS) which tax money goes towards, as well as road maintenance, and all that good stuff. Taxing gambling wouldn't make much sense, when we already get taxed enough on our income. We have a tax free allowance up to around 12k ish, and then from then on out we pay 20%, 40%, and 45% dependent on how much we earn. I know in the USA tax works difference, and in general you guys get taxed a lot less, mainly due to not having a public health service, at least a tax paid one.

In fact, you don't usually get taxed on losses at all, since it wouldn't make much sense. So, how would losing money on gambling be eligible for tax in the first place? They would only be taxing successful gamblers, not the opposite way around.

[Fundamentals Of]

It is obvious that many countries are torn between altogether prohibiting immoral activities such as prostitution and gambling and just allowing them but with regulations because they would still exist anyway. They would rather decriminalize these activities, tax them, make sure it is not abused, etc. But it is still not sending the right message. It is sending the very wrong message, that people are allowed to engage in these immoral activities for as long as the price is right.

[Wexnident]

Whatever reason the government has for imposing gambling tax on its citizens, afaik this can never deter people from this, maybe its trying to keep its citizens morally upright and preventing people from being gambling addicts or suppose some kind of religious reasons which could be right reasons but I think some governments have realized it's a good money making venture.

I mean, gambling tax helps the country so technically, people playing/gambling actually helps the country. And morally upright? Whoever dictated that gambling was moral or not? That's just a subjective bias imo, gamblers aren't addicts immediately, it's a process and it's up to proper management of both the gambling company and the person himself to not turn into one. And again, if the problem is people actually turning into addicts, it's not the companies fault, it's the person's fault. It's similar to saying that a person was the killer since he had the knife, but is that the truth of it all?

[traderethereum]

It is obvious that many countries are torn between altogether prohibiting immoral activities such as prostitution and gambling and just allowing them but with regulations because they would still exist anyway. They would rather decriminalize these activities, tax them, make sure it is not abused, etc. But it is still not sending the right message. It is sending the very wrong message, that people are allowed to engage in these immoral activities for as long as the price is right.

If the government thinks that their people can abuse the system or regulations, it is better they prohibit and do not allow their people to gamble or prostitute and those who break that will get punishment.
But the government needs to push the other business to contribute to the taxes if they prohibit gambling in their country because the tax can help the country grow.
Maybe the government needs to discuss with all business owners, including the gambling business owner so the message can deliver correctly.

[Alisha-k]

Taxation can't stop an addict from going about that which he/she is addicted to instead it would make such to device means of meeting up the demands so as to continue his activities and would seek legalisation in return for his tax so he can go about his business without restrictions there by causing more economic and societal crimes by this said addicts.

[KTChampions]

It is obvious that many countries are torn between altogether prohibiting immoral activities such as prostitution and gambling and just allowing them but with regulations because they would still exist anyway. They would rather decriminalize these activities, tax them, make sure it is not abused, etc. But it is still not sending the right message. It is sending the very wrong message, that people are allowed to engage in these immoral activities for as long as the price is right.

The concept of morality is quite different for everyone; moreover, the law does not operate with such concepts. You have the right to do anything, even immoral from someone's point of view, if it does not violate the law. Another thing is that in such areas it is quite difficult to draw the line of legality, since the interests of many people are intertwined there and the free actions of some people can infringe on the rights of other people.

[Botnake]

Whom the government will tax? is it the operators only or including the gamblers?

If they'll include the gamblers, then I guess people will not choose to gamble on a regulated platform, the revenue will decrease and the government will collect fewer taxes. However, there's no assurance that these people will stop gambling, they'll just find another alternative to gamble and that's for sure an illegal casino.

[leea-1334]

This is an interesting topic/point you're making here.  I live in the United States which has been rapidly becoming more open to legalized gambling.  My state just this past year legalized gambling. If something is legalized, then why should it be double or triple taxed just because some people deem it to be bad or harmful or whatever.  It really is stupid when you think about it.

In the US it is definitely a case of morality I believe,,, thanks to the large religious influence here. But as I said above, this is a vice we are talking about. Gambling and alcohol are known as vices, because they also bring a large impact on society (let us admit it we all know some guy who gambled his life away).

It is not about being bad or good. The extra taxes help to pay for rehab which the state bears as a result of vice consequence.

[Hypnosis00]

Whom the government will tax? is it the operators only or including the gamblers?

For big countries, I think taxes is on operators and the gamblers, though it looks complicated but the government would always want to benefit on the winners. With the proper tax guidelines, accounting would be easy and you can ask your accountant to compute your tax liability.

If they'll include the gamblers, then I guess people will not choose to gamble on a regulated platform, the revenue will decrease and the government will collect fewer taxes. However, there's no assurance that these people will stop gambling, they'll just find another alternative to gamble and that's for sure an illegal casino.

I don't know because it works in big countries, so I don't think it will not work with other countries.

[Rruchi man]

It is the duty of the government of any nation to do things and make rules and decisions with the interest/benefit of the people at heart. Having analysed the socio-economic life of its Citizens, some governments are aware that if they do not set high taxes and regulations against some vices like gambling, prostitution and some other things tagged as illegal, these things have the ability to topple a moral society.

The government is still aware that regardless of their regulations against certain activities like gambling, prostitution and others, these activities still go on as most of its citizens do not care and are ready to go against the law for it...so in a bid to control it, here's a rhetorical question, "why not make it legal and then impose a huge tax on it?" In order to gain from those who can pay the tax and discourage others who cannot pay the tax to not continue.

[Botnake]

Whom the government will tax? is it the operators only or including the gamblers?

For big countries, I think taxes is on operators and the gamblers, though it looks complicated but the government would always want to benefit on the winners. With the proper tax guidelines, accounting would be easy and you can ask your accountant to compute your tax liability.

Maybe because big countries are more strict in implementing their taxes and they have a good tax program that would really help their country to grow. Gambling is a lucrative business, so it deserves high taxes, and they can really force the operators to pay due to their serious penalty for violators.

If they'll include the gamblers, then I guess people will not choose to gamble on a regulated platform, the revenue will decrease and the government will collect fewer taxes. However, there's no assurance that these people will stop gambling, they'll just find another alternative to gamble and that's for sure an illegal casino.

I don't know because it works in big countries, so I don't think it will not work with other countries.

We never know, in rich countries, it's easy for people to gamble as they are not in poverty, but in poor countries where poverty is high, gambling should be a problem as some people is not educated and they are not aware of their chances and even the risk.

[zanezane]

I mean there's nothing wrong with any of those activities it's just that the industry like prostitution is unregulated meaning that STDs can be passed around much faster because it's unregulated but maybe if they copy what Las Vegas did with these things, they might be able to make a lot of money out of this things since there's a guarantee of patronage of this things.

[stadus]

In some countries gambling is against the law of the country and against the law of God, these are Muslim countries and they'll stick with what they believe. Despite that, there are still people who gamble but we can't expect that the government will one day regulate gambling because when it's against the law of God, it cannot be changed, that will stay forever.

For other countries, they don't regulate gambling much but they are also not active in going after illegal gambling, so most likely it's a corrupt country that officials and authorities just want to make money to satisfy their personal wants.

[iv4n]

In some countries gambling is against the law of the country and against the law of God, these are Muslim countries and they'll stick with what they believe. Despite that, there are still people who gamble but we can't expect that the government will one day regulate gambling because when it's against the law of God, it cannot be changed, that will stay forever.
...

The bottom line, people will find a way to do something they want, legal or illegal, with or without the law of GOD, it doesn't matter. So we have countries where many things are forbidden, we have countries where people can freely enjoy all life pleasures! For me that's crazy, I think this world, the entire world should be open and free for all! Like this, we will have people who will get arrested and go to jail simply because they wanted to enjoy something, without hurting anyone around!

Anyway, I am not sure what God has with gambling... it's just a game, and whoever likes to play should be free to play!

[stadus]

In some countries gambling is against the law of the country and against the law of God, these are Muslim countries and they'll stick with what they believe. Despite that, there are still people who gamble but we can't expect that the government will one day regulate gambling because when it's against the law of God, it cannot be changed, that will stay forever.
...

The bottom line, people will find a way to do something they want, legal or illegal, with or without the law of GOD, it doesn't matter. So we have countries where many things are forbidden, we have countries where people can freely enjoy all life pleasures! For me that's crazy, I think this world, the entire world should be open and free for all! Like this, we will have people who will get arrested and go to jail simply because they wanted to enjoy something, without hurting anyone around!

Anyway, I am not sure what God has with gambling... it's just a game, and whoever likes to play should be free to play!

That's why people have different religions because have different beliefs, for a country that most populations are Muslims, their laws of the land are based on the law of their God, we can't change that as that's why they believe even from the beginning. For us, gambling is just entertainment, but for them, it's a sin, we just have to respect that.