The main talking point at the India show in Mumbai at the end of February was the risk of increased taxes which the Indian Government is considering for coin machines.
There is already a 35 per cent import duty on amusement machines and the big rides which go into FECs in the country.
In addition, there is already a tax on the income of coin-operated machines from each individual state. This varies from zero up to 30 per cent depending on the state, but most levy something from the cash box.
Now the Indian Government is talking about a 15 per cent tax on machine income, which in addition to local taxes and the original import duty will do nothing but hamper the progress of the industry in India.
Local operator Ashish Gupta from Fun City in New Delhi, commented: "The proposal is for a service tax. We are all asking how this is going to be paid for, by the operators or passed on to the customers. It is not a helpful move at all."
