ACT Government’s betting taxes fall short despite higher POCT

The ACT Government has revealed that revenue from its 25 per cent Betting Operations Tax (BOT) has fallen $5.8 million short of expectations in the current financial year.

Introduced in 2022, the BOT effectively functions as a 25 per cent Point Of Consumption Tax — the highest rate applied in any Australian jurisdiction — but the move has not resulted in the projected financial windfall due to a significant decline in turnover.

During the last financial year, BOT revenue came in at $21.7 million, which was $10.4 million under the original forecast. For this financial year, actual returns are projected at $22 million, down from the expected $27.8 million.

“As a relatively new tax, BOT revenue has experienced strong growth from a low base. As the market for online betting has matured, growth has slowed, and this is reflected in the updated estimates,” the ACT Budget stated.

Despite modest growth of just $300,000 this year, the government anticipates a $1.7 million increase in BOT revenue for 2025/26. Over the forward estimates period, returns are predicted to grow significantly.