E.U. TAX ADVANTAGES TO PLAYING NEW POKERSTARS WEBSITE


02/14/2012 :  Malta licensing means player-friendly tax arrangements
 
The recent launch of the new Pokerstars.eu website under Malta licensing  represents more than a clever corporate move from the Isle of Man headquartered internet poker provider…there are significant player advantages for some players as well.
 
The new site's Malta licensing means that visitors enjoy punter-friendly EU policies through which gambling wins are non-taxable, but can still enjoy all the advantages of the dotcom site in terms of games availability and an abundance of competition.
Gamblers in Nordic countries like Sweden and Finland, for example, face almost punitive tax requirements on winnings achieved outside of the EU.
 
Guy Templer, the man in charge of business development at Pokerstars, explained this week: “Some markets treat European Union-licensed operators differently than other license-holders.
 
"Offering our online poker on Pokerstars.eu with a Maltese licence provides benefits to players in Sweden and Finland in particular.”
 
Templer said that the rationale for the new site was to address the confusion that often surrounds tax on winnings in different European nations. Gamblers in Sweden and Finland were previously taxed on up to 50 percent of their online gambling winnings earned outside of the EU, he pointed out as an example.
 
From a Pokerstars perspective, the .eu business strategy enables the company to compete more equitably with Malta-licensed rivals who have also been offering tax advantages to players.