Spain Moves to Tax Poker as a Professional Sport

Spain has announced it will tax poker as a professional sport, with players being considered professional athletes. The new legislation will also apply to billiards, chess, and all card games. The European Poker Tour (EPT) stop in Barcelona is one of the most popular destinations on the calendar, but now players and organizers are left wondering how this will affect the tournament.

The EPT organisers clarified that they won’t be collecting any taxes, leaving it up to the players. Barny Boatman of Hendon Mob expressed concerns about the new taxation rules on Twitter, stating that the new designation will make it harder to become a professional poker player.

All players, including foreigners, will now be taxed on their winnings in Spain. EU members will pay a 19% tax rate, while non-EU members will pay 24%. Spanish chess grandmaster Paco Vallejo Pons faced a legal battle after receiving a bill for half a million euros despite losing money. The new laws may allow amateurs to organize their own events without a middleman.