The latest GST Council meeting has announced that the bets placed in online gaming and casinos will now face 28 percent tax. Among the other changes announced by the council were the reduction of tax on food and beverages sold at multiplexes, and tweaking the definition of utility vehicles for taxation.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the decision to levy maximum tax on online gaming and casinos were not intended to kill the industry but consider the "moral question" that it cannot be taxed at par with essential commodities. It is aimed at discouraging young people from getting addicted to online gaming,

The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), which represents companies like Nazara, GamesKraft, Zupee and Winzo, said the decision by the council is unconstitutional, irrational, and egregious.

"The decision ignores over 60 years of settled legal jurisprudence and lumps online skill gaming with gambling activities. This decision will wipe out the entire Indian gaming industry and lead to lakhs of job losses and the only people benefitting from this will be anti-national illegal offshore platforms," AIGF CEO Roland Landers said.

The latest GST Council meeting has announced that the bets placed in online gaming and casinos will now face 28 percent tax. Among the other changes announced by the council were the reduction of tax on food and beverages sold at multiplexes, and tweaking the definition of utility vehicles for taxation.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the decision to levy maximum tax on online gaming and casinos were not intended to kill the industry but consider the "moral question" that it cannot be taxed at par with essential commodities. It is aimed at discouraging young people from getting addicted to online gaming,

The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), which represents companies like Nazara, GamesKraft, Zupee and Winzo, said the decision by the council is unconstitutional, irrational, and egregious.

"The decision ignores over 60 years of settled legal jurisprudence and lumps online skill gaming with gambling activities. This decision will wipe out the entire Indian gaming industry and lead to lakhs of job losses and the only people benefitting from this will be anti-national illegal offshore platforms," AIGF CEO Roland Landers said.