This is a guest contribution by Mukesh Choudhary is a the Editor-in-Chief for http://OnlinePokerNews.in. If you would like to submit a contribution please contact Bill Beatty for submission details. Thank you. 

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of India is all set to present the union budget for 2016-17 on 29th February and alike other sectors, the poker and gaming industry is hopeful of supportive reforms. The tax on poker winnings has been absurdly high in India and with the increasing market size and the growing number of professional players; everyone wants the slab to be expanded as well as percentage to be decreased.

Current Scenario

Section 115BB of the Income Tax Act imposes 30% Tax on the winnings from poker or any card game. Section 2(24)(ix) expands the taxation umbrella to lotteries, crossword puzzles, races including horse races, card games and other games of any sort or from gambling or betting of any form or nature whatsoever. The organizers of the game (online and offline) is responsible for deduction of tax and furnish TDS certificates to the players. At many instances, poker players as well as operators have raised their voices against high tax rates but the authorities had left everything unchanged.