Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans in regard to providing a regulated environment (details supplied) so that it can be effectively taxed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40197/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have stated previously that it is my intention to widen, if possible, the tax base on which betting duty would be applied. Bets placed either online or over the phone are generally with out-of-State companies so applying betting duty is therefore problematic. My officials, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Justice and Law Reform, are looking at the scope to overcome legal and operational difficulties in this area including extending an appropriate regulatory and tax regime to betting exchanges. Any extension of betting duty will be applied on a fair basis and should not be perceived as an attempt to threaten jobs. Also, tax changes will be in tandem with ongoing work by the Department of Justice and Law Reform on issues surrounding licensing and regulation.