It is very surprising that why theRace clubs and other racing bodies are not going to the courts against the 28% of GST,though there is sufficient ground to win the suite against the Govt.Seems they have their own personal advantages by not going against Government As l told in my previous letter in this column an opposition TOP leader is telling if his party comes in to power the maximum slab of GST will be 18% only.Till the FM in the same government won’t change the GST may not change. Any thing may happen to the amusement of punters.

Bravely all the racing clubs combinedly should file a case in the court against 28%GST for the survival this RACING INDUSTRY.  This should be done somewhere else in June or July if gGST is not brought down to its lowest level.

The FM and PM have hurriedly imposed GST with out consulting the experts and now GST in mess and also they dont know how to come out of this mess. As the election is not far away they do not pay any attention for Racing. If at all a change is there in rates, it can be only in Oct/Nov 19.

Reduction of GST is not the solution. It is illegal to levy GST on bet amount since betting is neither goods nor services. The levy should be on club commission only. The turf clubs and big owners and breeders should go to the courts to get the levy of GST on total bet amount quashed and the levy should be on club commission only.

I fully agree with Ragavan. Government will get higher GST collection by reducing to 10% and banning private bookies system in Indian racing forever for good.

If GST is reduced to 10%, there will be all round increase in sales and the Government gets much higher GST than what it is getting now!

A very good point.  Will definitely win the case in any Court of Law.   But, there is huge variation between your presumptions and ground realities.

Suppose the Government introduces 10% gst for race betting.  The next day bookies all over India will  start collecting 5% tax and there will be status quo.  Perhaps the supervisory staff in the turf club may be compelled to lower their baksheesh.  Apart from this you will not find any change.

Of course, the punters' will always prefer to do business with the bookies even if there is not much difference between tote payout and bookies payout.  That is presuming that both tote players and bookie players are on level playing field paying the prescribed GST.  But, with huge discount is GST given by bookies, the Indian racing scenario will not  see any change even if the Government .reduces GST.

And finally,  the Government will not care whether  the GST that you are paying is high or low.  So, do not expect any relief from Government regarding GST on horse betting.

Dear Taxpayers,

    There has been a long drawn debate about GST and its killing the industry of horse racing. For Government officials the key to any give away shall be numbers. Race Clubs, bookies, ordinary punters, Owners , Trainers etc have also stated about 28% GST. 

  Yes 28% as such is a substantive figure for horse racing to survive on a long term basis. The powers that be in racing industry need to address the issue with the government in a different plane. Stats of taxes collected directly before GST is available with all race clubs--- Race clubs should give an undertaking that that amount plus 5% shall be provided as minum gurantee from the base year from which GST stared and add afigure of 5% year on year to this as a definite payout to the Govt as GST.

   What this ensures is the Govt shall know the amount in advance from Clubs year on year  and clubs shall be reposed to collect this amount directly rfrom Bookies, tote , This shall ensure that clubs also take care of illegal seepage of revenue to govt coffers as each club authority shall be mandated to earn the revenue proposed in the beginning of Financial year.

  Any amendement to Financial regulations bestowing authorities to clubs who then shall have to provide a bank guarantee to substantiate this payment. Govt from its end need not look into the intracacies of GST by deploying authorities who raid or overlook non payment of correct GST.

 To sum it % is itself a misnomer for collection of GST or taxes when the authority which is bestowed with collection(each race club in India), and off course centres in states like AP and Maharashtra can be vested with this powers.

To whom are you telling all this.  Everybody knows this.