Early investigations into the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia by InterGame’s representatives on their regular tour of the region this year have indicated that in many, but not all cases, operators were absorbing the five per cent VAT now being applied to FEC revenues in the two countries.
The other four GCC countries, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, are all due to begin to impose VAT across virtually all commodities and services in 2019.
In most cases the tax is being applied to the cost of a debit card, but there are variations. One or two companies are taking the "hit" where players opt for higher payment packages for entry into FECs. One said that if its premium package of 120 dirhams (around €26) is opted for by players then it would waive the five per cent.
