Prepare to shell out more money when you’ve been bitten by the gambling bug while in India as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) council announced new tax slabs under the country’s new tax regime.

Apparently, the GST council has considered gambling and race club betting as “luxury” services, along with cinemas and five-star hotels, which will be slapped with 28 percent tax. Entry fees in casinos and cinema halls will likewise be charged with the highest GST rate.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who chairs the GST Council, begs to differ. Jaitley said that the 28 percent tax slab for cinema halls and casinos is just fair because entertainment and luxury taxes are already merged with service tax in GST.

On varying degrees. Online skills games do not fall under gambling and are likely to be included in the 18 percent tax slab while racing was also lumped with the other “luxury” services under the 28 percent tax bracket.

Lottery distributors are waiting in bated breaths as the GST council is yet to announce the tax rate for lottery tickets or services. However, there are reports that India’s US$7.78-billion lottery business will be under the 28 percent tax bracket.

Gambling in India faces another impediment with the proposed tax regime which could force bettors to resort to illegal channels.

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Steaming - A term in blackjack where a player has become frustrated with how badly the play have turned out.

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Race car aficionados, start your engines! It’s just three days away from the most prestigious Formula 1 race, the Grand Prix De Monaco 2017 in Monte Carlo!  Lewis Hamilton is heavily favored to win with +120, followed by Sebastian Vettel at +135 and Valtteri Bottas at +700.