We have been working with our tax advisors and this is going to have a huge effect on
DTD, effectively all our Juice and Rake will be taxed at somehwere between 15% to 20%. The worst thing about this is that it is on REVENUE - NOT PROFIT (if it was on profit
DTD would pay £0!).
This is what the Government have done to
DTD so far.
1. They made us get a full Casino Licence and delayed our opening at considerable cost but have left all the so called "illegal poker clubs" alone.
2. They told us we were "VAT except" after we opened so we could not claim VAT back on the £3.8m refit/start up costs (and running costs thereafter)
3. They changed our Business Rates to £200k from £50K to make us in line with the other CASINOS in Nottingham
4. And now they want us to pay 15%-20% of ALL of our poker revenue to them in "Gaming Duty"
DTD (including online) has never made 1p profit and I am down £5m on
DTD and now they do this.
This is very bad for live poker in the UK. We are currently speaking to our advisors and the HRM Customs and Excise, it looks like bad news and even worse, they are going to backdate it to April 29th 2009!!!!!
I have also spoke to Rank, some of their venues will hit the full 50% which is so bad for UK poker - this is money GOING OUT OF THE GAME.
Sadly, I believe this is the Government's first step towards taxing Poker generally - ie winnings and Prize Pools.
All that will happen is poker will be played live in illegal clubs and of course, on the online sites in non-taxable countries.
It's a nightmare, we are reviewing the situation but I am not prepared to do anything illegal to try and dodge the new Gaming Tax (thanks for the ideas though!). We have to look at our options.....
Rob