Poker Law: Hungary Set for new Law
Written by Renee K | Thursday, October 29th, 2009
With the growth of the popularity of poker in Eastern Europe and worldwide poker, local governments are eyeing ways to take a share of the pot. As such, the Hungarian government has declared its intention to introduce legislation that will tax poker players in the country.
As we reported in an earlier piece, poker is seen as a hugely attractive pastime in Hungary where it is seen a much more lucrative way of making money than searching for a job. Many students are buoyed by the success of poker wunderkinds such as the 22 year old Peter Traply who earned himself €230,000 in the last World Series of Poker event.
“Poker is really growing fast in Hungary right now,” said Traply. “And I think this winning really encourages it. With even more players, poker will be even more popular than it is now.”
The government is hoping to get its hands on part of the winnings made by Traply and his fellow professional poker players, and it is believed that millions of Euros can find their way into state coffers in this way.
Hungary’s number one poker player, Denes Kalo, is also a star among the country’s professional wannabes. Kalo has a strong presence on the European poker circuit and he is best known for his second place ranking in the EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final that took place in April 2008. The young player took home an incredible €1,176,000 in this competition, and has so far made a total of €1,600,000 in his poker career.
Kalo is certainly also on the government’s radar for taxation purposes, which is determined to change the status of poker from a sport to a gambling pastime to make it taxable.
“Casinos are already paying concession fees to the state,” said the Hungarian Finance State Secretary Laszlo Keller. “I know that poker players say their situation is different because they view themselves as sportspeople, not as gamblers, like a casino. Parliament should determine the status of poker. I expect that to happen soon.”
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· Written by Renee K · Filed Under Poker News · Comments Off
