A plan to apply betting tax to online bookmakers is among the provisions included in the Finance Bill, which has been published today.
Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan announced in the Budget last December that the Government intended to extend the existing 1 per cent levy on betting turnover in bookmakers to online operators such as Irish-owned Paddy Power and Boylesports, who have previously been exempt from the charge.
The measure is expected to raise about €20 million extra in a full year.
Betting exchanges such as Betfair, which allow people to make bets with other customers online, are to be made liable to a "betting intermediary duty" at the rate of 15 per cent of the commission they receive from punters in Ireland.
A number of commercial lawyers had previously warned that the move to apply betting tax to online operators could force bookmakers to move offshore if they did not also apply to those who offer online betting but are based outside of Ireland.
Mr Lenihan has indicated that he is considering a licensing system for such operators.
The regulatory changes outlined in the Finance Bill are to be provided for through separate legislation amending the Betting Act 1931.
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