Peru lawmakers could soon approve a bill that would legalize sports gambling in the country. A bill introduced by Percy Eloy Alcala Mateo of the Fuerza Popular party seeks to pave the way for Peruvians to participate in the increasingly popular gambling market. The bill, Bill 3397/2018-CE, has already been presented to Congress for consideration.

The legislative piece covers an array of topics related to sports gambling. In a move that would make sports gambling taxable along the same lines as casinos and lotteries, sportsbooks would have to pay a monthly tax of 12%, which would be calculated against the difference between what was taken in by the sportsbooks and what was paid out.

Currently, sportsbooks operate in the country, but are not legislated. As pointed out by Luis Felipe Cornejo, the general manager of Sportimba.com, sports gambling operators only pay an income tax and, for his part, the additional 12% is acceptable, as it would bring the tax rate in line with what is seen in other countries.

Cornejo added, “I do not think the measure will impact on the players’ prizes. If it were to impact the companies, we would receive the same income and the expense would be higher. But it is a manageable tax.”