Gambling pays off for TRNC’s coffers
CASINO operators say that they paid the equivalent of almost 300 million TL in taxes and fees into the TRNC’s state coffers in just one month.
The Casino Operators’ Association (CİB) took out paid-for adverts in the press and on social media to highlight the “important place” casinos have in the TRNC economy, and that casino operators “regularly pay their taxes”.
CİB coordinator Ayhan Sarıçiçek said: “For years, rumours have been circulated among the public to create the perception that casinos don’t pay taxes.
“Although we have stressed in explanations from time to time that this is not true, unfortunately this false perception has taken root.
“For this reason, starting from this month, we will regularly inform the public of what we pay in taxes and fees so our people have accurate information.”
According to the statement, the casino sector paid a total of 239,979,107 Turkish lira to the state in June 2022.
The CİB said the amount included around 5.79 million euros in licence fees, $1.63 million in “withholding” tax, and $1.79 million in gambling services tax.
Taxes and fees paid in Turkish lira were around 25.38 million TL in VAT, which the CİB said must be paid in full because the casino sector is not allowed to benefit from any “offsetting” measures to reduce the amount of VAT payable; 46.75 million TL in customs fees, and 450,000TL in casino entry fees.