Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the proposed new gambling legislation does not allow for any tax to be collected on moneys earned by the layers - that is, bookmakers - in betting exchanges, unlike other bookmakers in the State, and instead stipulates that betting exchanges will pay just 15% gross profit tax on their commission; his views on whether this loophole may facilitate tax evasion; if he will consider ensuring that the new betting licence requires those betting through the betting exchanges who act as layers to pay income tax through a system similar to DIRT tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5808/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The proposed Betting (Amendment) Bill, which is being drafted at present, will amend the 1931 Betting Act to inter alia establish the regulatory framework for the licensing of remote bookmakers and betting exchanges, including measures to enforce the regulatory framework. The drafting of the Bill, which is fairly complex, is well advanced. The Finance Act 2011 contained measures to allow for the extension of the 1% betting duty to remote bookmakers and for a 15% gross profit tax to betting exchanges. The taxation provisions are subject to a Ministerial Commencement order which can only be commenced when the Betting (Amendment) Bill is enacted. In relation to the taxation treatment of betting exchanges, it is the operator of the betting exchange that will be liable to the gross profit tax which is also the position in the UK.