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Tax on poker winnings?

    • Joshquan
      Joshquan
      Bronze
      Joined: 01.01.2009 Posts: 479
      I obviously don't have enough poker winnings tio be taxed on (yet :evil: ) but i was just wondering what the regulations are on it in england? Do you play as much tax as anyone with a regular income or is it different?

      (yes this idea was sparked by yohgi's blog)

      Thanks
  • 17 replies
    • TheBu11d0g
      TheBu11d0g
      Bronze
      Joined: 25.07.2008 Posts: 2,019
      Hello Joshquan,

      As far as i can remember if poker winnings are your sole source of income in the UK then they are not liable for Tax.

      Kind Regards,
      -Steve
    • Joshquan
      Joshquan
      Bronze
      Joined: 01.01.2009 Posts: 479
      okay thank you!
    • sydney69
      sydney69
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      Joined: 09.08.2008 Posts: 4
      I'm not 100% certain but I think that when the government introduced the national lottery they removed all tax on all gambling.
    • NIVEKii
      NIVEKii
      Silver
      Joined: 01.01.2009 Posts: 1,138
      As said before, income from poker / gambling is not subject to taxes (afaik ofc :p)
    • cannell555
      cannell555
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      Joined: 06.03.2008 Posts: 2,410
      Poker, just like sports betting is classed as a non-skilled by our government. Therefore it is not taxed.

      Regards,
      Stiev
    • NIVEKii
      NIVEKii
      Silver
      Joined: 01.01.2009 Posts: 1,138
      So if you want to go pro, move to England? :p
    • luitzen
      luitzen
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      Joined: 03.04.2009 Posts: 664
      • 13.06.2009, 20:35
      • This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by luitzen: 14.06.2009 11:03.
      Originally posted by cannell555
      Poker, just like sports betting is classed as a non-skilled by our government. Therefore it is not taxed.

      Regards,
      Stiev
      Here in the Netherlands it's more like:

      Poker, just like sports betting is dangerous and doesn't require any efforts and it's dangerous. Therefore it should be heavily taxed since we want to discourage it. Besides that betting is dangerous. These people making a living out of playing poker would be much more valuable for society if they would just get a regular job. Besides that betting is dangerous.

      That's the general opinion among politicians. Our country is ruled by christen democrats, christians and socialists. They only value money earned by labour and nothing else.

      P.S. I don't dislike them, and I'm certainly not one of those people complaining about our government.
    • Djvandal
      Djvandal
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      Joined: 27.04.2009 Posts: 115
      Canada is another Gamblers haven :)
    • Yoghi
      Yoghi
      Black
      Joined: 10.09.2007 Posts: 14,387
      Originally posted by luitzen
      Originally posted by cannell555
      Poker, just like sports betting is classed as a non-skilled by our government. Therefore it is not taxed.

      Regards,
      Stiev
      Here in the Netherlands it's more like:

      Poker, just like sports betting is dangerous and doesn't require any efforts and it's dangerous. Therefore it should be heavily taxed since we want to discourage it. Besides that betting is dangerous. These people making a living out of playing poker would be much more valuable for society if they would just get a regular job. Besides that betting is dangerous.

      That's the general opinion amount politicians. Our country is ruled by christen democrats, christians and socialists. They only value money earned by labour and nothing else.

      P.S. I don't dislike them, and I'm certainly not one of those people complaining about our government.
      I'm sorry to ruin your view on the dutch government, but this is not true.
    • luitzen
      luitzen
      Bronze
      Joined: 03.04.2009 Posts: 664
      • 14.06.2009, 11:04
      • This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by luitzen: 14.06.2009 11:05.
      So please, tell me how it is then.

      edit: can you please correct my typo in your quote:D
    • Schnitzelfisch
      Schnitzelfisch
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      Joined: 08.11.2008 Posts: 4,952
      Originally posted by luitzen
      So please, tell me how it is then.

      edit: can you please correct my typo in your quote:D
      When they take 30-50% from your 50k$ you'll have a different view
    • NIVEKii
      NIVEKii
      Silver
      Joined: 01.01.2009 Posts: 1,138
      Originally posted by Djvandal
      Canada is another Gamblers haven :)

      Please, do elaborate :)
    • Berzerger
      Berzerger
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      Joined: 24.03.2008 Posts: 910
      In Belgium 33% is taxed, I believe. Because poker is gambling, and gambling means inevitably losing money in the long run. This is the government's opinion even though they don't even know the rules of the game, but obviously they're the only ones qualified to decide whether it's a game of skill or not. If anyone's confused, I was being slightly sarcastic. Nevertheless, as long as the sums do not exceed a certain amount, the local IRS won't get suspicious, and I get the thrill of being an illegal gambler :s_cool:
    • Dykiller
      Dykiller
      Bronze
      Joined: 19.02.2008 Posts: 168
      Originally posted by NIVEKii
      Originally posted by Djvandal
      Canada is another Gamblers haven :)

      Please, do elaborate :)

      No taxes in canada on gambling at all.
    • luitzen
      luitzen
      Bronze
      Joined: 03.04.2009 Posts: 664
      Originally posted by Berzerger
      ...obviously they're the only ones qualified to decide whether it's a game of skill or not.
      It's actually the court who decides whether it's gambling or a game of skill.
    • Berzerger
      Berzerger
      Bronze
      Joined: 24.03.2008 Posts: 910
      Originally posted by luitzen
      Originally posted by Berzerger
      ...obviously they're the only ones qualified to decide whether it's a game of skill or not.
      It's actually the court who decides whether it's gambling or a game of skill.
      Even actuallier (shut up, I know it's not a word), it's the national odds games commission, which is an organ that advises the government in juridical cases related to gambling and events with uncertain outcome. According to their definition, every game that has an element of randomness is considered a game of odds, and to this day they refuse to recognize that poker is a game of skill. Coincidentally, it's the people who know the least about the game who are empowered to decide whether or not it should be illegal, which is my main problem with them.
    • luitzen
      luitzen
      Bronze
      Joined: 03.04.2009 Posts: 664
      Originally posted by Berzerger
      Originally posted by luitzen
      Originally posted by Berzerger
      ...obviously they're the only ones qualified to decide whether it's a game of skill or not.
      It's actually the court who decides whether it's gambling or a game of skill.
      Even actuallier (shut up, I know it's not a word), it's the national odds games commission, which is an organ that advises the government in juridical cases related to gambling and events with uncertain outcome. According to their definition, every game that has an element of randomness is considered a game of odds, and to this day they refuse to recognize that poker is a game of skill. Coincidentally, it's the people who know the least about the game who are empowered to decide whether or not it should be illegal, which is my main problem with them.
      What I actually meant is that if someone decides to start a lawsuit against your country because your country's gambling laws are against EU laws then the court is the one who decides.

      It's the same in my country. Holland Casino and Lotto have a monopoly on gambling in the Netherlands. Now some gambling sites from abroad start lawsuits against the Netherlands to have the monopoly removed since it conflicts with European laws.