Casino Tax - What does it mean?

Das Online Glücksspiel ist mittlerweile auf dem Höhepunkt angekommen, da immer mehr handelsübliche Casinos ihre Pforten schließen müssen. Das Glücksspiel hat sich fast komplett in das Internet verlagert, da das Spielen im Internet einige Vorteile mit sich bringt, die nicht zu vernachlässigen sind.

Ein großer Vorteil sind die Auszahlungsquoten, da diese in den Online Casinos deutlich höher sind. In der Regel liegen die Auszahlungsquoten bei Spielautomaten bei 95 bis 96 Prozent. Zudem gibt es in den Online Casinos regelmäßig Bonusangebote und Treueprogramme, sodass die Spieler sich kostenlos Freispiele und gratis Geld sichern können. Außerdem gibt es eine höhere Flexibilität in den Online Casinos, da die Casinos rund um die Uhr geöffnet haben.

Durch die mobilen Applikationen können die Online Casinos mittlerweile von unterwegs aus verwendet werden, wodurch die Flexibilität noch einmal angestiegen ist. Außerdem können Kunden die Online Casinos ganz bequem von Zuhause aus nutzen.

Aufgrund der hohen Beliebtheit der Online Casinos kommt häufig die Frage auf, ob die Gewinne in einem Online Casino versteuert werden müssen. Der folgende Text wird sich ausschließlich mit den Steuern beschäftigen und erläutern, ob und wann Steuern gezahlt werden müssen.

What requirements must be met?

Basically, there are two requirements that must be met if the profit is to be tax-exempt. These two requirements are explained in the following section:

It is important that the prize was won within the European Union. The prize must have been won in Germany or in a European member state which has a European Gambling licence verfügt. Zudem muss der Anbieter alle Umsätze korrekt in dem europäischen Land versteuern.

Geld, welches bei einem Online Casino ergattert wurde, dass zum Beispiel in der Karibik lizenziert ist, muss angemeldet und versteuert werden. Das gleiche gilt für Gewinne, die zum Beispiel in einem Las Vegas Urlaub gemacht wurden. Gewinnt man mehr als 10.000 Euro, müssen diese beim Zoll angemeldet werden. Allerdings müssen die Gewinne nicht versteuert, sondern nur deklariert werden.

The second condition that must be fulfilled if the winnings are not to be taxed is that one must not be a professional gambler. In the case of a one-time, large win, one cannot speak of a professional gambler. This is an exception. If you regularly win large sums and have them paid out to your account, you must expect to pay tax on the winnings. Especially if the winnings from gambling are the only source of income. There could also be problems if the winnings exceed the actual salary. In these two cases, the office may classify the gambler as a professional gambler. If one is subsequently declared a professional gambler, then all winnings would have to be taxed retroactively. It does not matter which casino the winnings were won in.

ConclusionIf you want to be on the safe side when it comes to winnings, you should fulfil two requirements. The winnings obtained must come from the European Union and the player must not be declared as a professional gambler. Professional gamblers are players who live solely from the winnings from gambling or players who earn more money from gambling than in their actual profession.

Do taxes have to be paid on winnings in an online casino?

As a rule, customers in an online casino do not have to pay any taxes for gambling. The same applies to Lotto, Sportwetten und similar gambling. However, a few conditions have to be met. The current status is that no taxes have to be paid on a profit, as this is written down in the law.

This law reads:

Of the turnover covered by § 1 par. 1 no. 1, the following shall be exempt from tax: turnover covered by the Racing Betting and Lotteries Act.

UstG § 4 No. 9b

This law applies to all games of chance that are taxable in Germany or within the European Union. The providers of these games of chance must pay a gambling tax or a turnover tax in the European Member State in which the gambling takes place. Only then are the winnings from gambling absolutely tax-free.

The most common questions from players at the casino

Do I have to pay tax on my winnings in the online casino
If so, in which country do I have to increase the price of my profit?
How high is the profit tax
What happens if I do not pay tax on my profit?
Is there a legal way to avoid taxation?
For example, do I have to pay tax on my winnings at the casino in Las Vegas?

Conclusion: The winnings from a game of chance are usually tax-free as long as the provider is located in Germany or within the European Union. In addition, the provider must pay taxes in the country where the gambling takes place.

Which games of chance in the online casino are tax-free?

As already mentioned, all games of chance in Germany are completely exempt from tax. The amount of the winnings and the game play only a subordinate role or no role at all. There is one prerequisite, however. The game that cannot be based on can. It must be a pure game of chance. These games are absolutely tax-free:

• Slot machines
• Baccarat
• Roulette
• Blackjack
• Poker
• Craps
• Video Poker
• Keno
• Bingo
• Lotto
• Scratch cards

Conclusion:

There are certain conditions under which winnings in online casinos must be taxed. As long as the player is not considered a professional gambler and the winnings were made in a European or German online casino, they are completely tax-free. Games such as slot machines, roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat and video poker are tax-free because they are based on luck and not on skill.

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