Online gaming: GST hike pauses FDI, 33% firms face losses, 17% seek buyers
There has been no FDI post-October 1, 2023, in the online gaming sector that attracted $2.6 billion since 2019, says a report by EY and USISPF
There has been no FDI post-October 1, 2023, in the online gaming sector that attracted $2.6 billion since 2019, says a report by EY and USISPF
The Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 too was passed by the Parliament today.
The amendments aim to provide enabling provisions to tax online games at 28%.
The country's popular gaming platform has cited the 28% GST proposed on online gaming platforms from October 1 as the primary reason behind the recent layoffs
Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre plans to move the amendments on taxing online gaming at 28% in the ongoing session of the parliament.
Clarifications and clear definitions of various aspects of monetary bets, deposits, use of digital virtual assets in the gaming ecosystem are likely to be taken up by the GST Council.
Amid major push back from the online gaming industry against the 28% GST imposed on the sector last month, the Centre has indicated that the high slab on the sector is here to stay.
In its meeting on July 11, GST Council recommended online gaming to be taxed at 28% on full face value, along with horse racing and casinos
Investors rue the latest decision to impose proposed GST on 'full value of bets' will increase tax burden by 1,100%, and 50-70% of every rupee will go towards GST, making biz model “unviable”
Online gaming players say the decision has caused "significant distress" in the industry, and that it'll reverse the growth the gaming industry in India has seen so far