No Change from McCreevy for the shops Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy has left the tax on betting at two per cent in yesterday’s budget but he did raise the levy on on-course betting.Those on course from the beginning of next month will pay one per cent which will be passed on to the racecourses to enable them to keep admission prices as low as possible.Bookmakers aren’t happy with the move, their representative Francis Hyland saying ‘We already pay and absorb 0.3 per cent levy which goes to HRI and if the extra one per cent comes in, we will have to pass it on to the punter. It’s a charge on turnover which could not possibly be absorbed.’Obviously the shops are very happy that the two per cent rate hasn’t been increased after many had suggested that at least one per cent would be added on. Of course most of the offices are already absorbing this charge.
