Legislation in Europe??!!

[Izo Fazo]

Does anyone know in which european countries online poker is legal (and tax free)?? I heard that it is legal in Italy and Spain but I cant find any more information about it...

Thanks for replies, Izo.

[DeadMoneyDad]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone know in which european countries online poker is legal (and tax free)?? I heard that it is legal in Italy and Spain but I cant find any more information about it...

Thanks for replies, Izo.

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A German friend tells me it is legal in Germany and tax free as long as you are not a pro.


D$D

[Inf1n1tY]

Its legal in Norway, sweden, finnland etc. i dont think there is a country in europe that has a clear law that tells its illegal. I'm from germany. there will be a new law next year wich may prohebit online poker and reserve all online poker rights for the government.

[JavaNut]

In most EU countries it is legal to play poker online, but you may only be tax exempt if playing on sites having a license inside the EU. But you need to check each individual country in the EU. Outside the EU you definitely have to check each countrys law.

[Todpullen]

In the UK it is legal, and tax free whatever site you play on - just keep records so that you can prove to the Inland Revenue that your income comes from gambling ( see here (http://www.thehendonmob.com/Articles/poker_and_the_taxman.html) for more info).

[LuckyFuc1ker]

How does tax work if you are English but play in the US, would you pay tax on any winnings made abroad?

[Todpullen]

If you are a UK citizen, normally resident in the UK and visit the US and have some poker winnings then you don't owe tax. However, if the winnings are live, and large enough, then the casino can withhold US tax on them.

As the UK has a tax treaty with the US you can then (theoretically) claim this tax withholding back but this involves a few forms and getting something called an ITIN number. Sometimes the casino will help you with this. I have never done it so wouldn't know how tricky the process is (or indeed the details of the process itself).

[Phil123]

[ QUOTE ]
If you are a UK citizen, normally resident in the UK and visit the US and have some poker winnings then you don't owe tax. However, if the winnings are live, and large enough, then the casino can withhold US tax on them.

As the UK has a tax treaty with the US you can then (theoretically) claim this tax withholding back but this involves a few forms and getting something called an ITIN number. Sometimes the casino will help you with this. I have never done it so wouldn't know how tricky the process is (or indeed the details of the process itself).

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It's pretty easy. Take you British passport to the cage, the casino then just makes a phone call gets the ITIN number, you sign a forms and get paid out in full. You will also receive your ITIN number through the post usually a few weeks later. Once you have your ITIN number you can use it any time you cash in the future.

[xerxesthegod]

In France it's supposed to be illegal to play poker online but well everybody plays. And btw France is under the pressure of Bruxelles because of this kind of legislation.

[Phil123]

[ QUOTE ]
In France it's supposed to be illegal to play poker online but well everybody plays. And btw France is under the pressure of Bruxelles because of this kind of legislation.

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I think any country in the EU that allows gambling inside it's borders will not be able to ban online gambling and if they do the law would be quickly turned over by the EU as it would be seen as protectionist and not in-line with the free trade that's supposed to go on between member states.