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              |   | Online gaming is gambling like casinos: Nirmala Sitharaman |  
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                    IANS | 29 Jun, 2022
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                        | Top Stories |  |  |  
                    |  |  |  Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday categorically termed online gaming "nothing but gambling".
 
 Addressing
 the media at the conclusion of the two-day meeting of the Goods and 
Services Tax (GST) Council held in Chandigarh, Sitharaman said casinos, 
horse-racing, and online gaming are all gambling.
 
 "Whether it is 
horse-racing or online gaming or casinos, the common thread that the 
Committee highlighted was they are part of betting and gaming.
 
 "In
 other words, they are essentially gambling. There may be an element of 
skill in it or an element of chance in it. But essentially, all the 
three are gambling," Sitharaman said.
 
 She said the Group of 
Ministers (GOM), headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, on
 betting, casinos, horse racing, online gaming which are taxed at 28 per
 cent, was in favour of status quo in this regard.
 
 Sangma said 
the Goa Finance Minister had requested him to let him present his views 
on GST on casinos at the Council meeting and it agreed to hear again on 
online gaming and others.
 
 The GOM will submit its report on July 
15 and it will be discussed at the next GST Council meeting to be held 
in Tamil Nadu's Madurai, the home town of both Sitharaman and Tamil Nadu
 Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan.
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