The Maharashtra Government has recently enacted the Maharashtra Goods and Services (Second Amendment) Act, 2023, bringing about changes to the Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (“the MGST Act”), specifically addressing issues related to ‘Online Gaming’ and ‘Online Money Gaming.’ This Act effectively repeals the Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, which was dated September 26, 2023.
One significant aspect of this amendment is the introduction of definitions for terms such as ‘specified actionable claim’ and ‘virtual digital asset.’ Moreover, the Act replaces the terminology “lottery, betting, and gambling” with the broader term ‘specified actionable claims.’
In the wake of the 50th and 51st GST Council Meetings in October 2023, several States and Union Territories promptly promulgated Ordinances to implement legislative amendments concerning ‘Online Gaming.’ These collective efforts demonstrate a concerted approach among various regions to address and regulate issues related to online gaming activities.
The Complete Ordinance can be accessed at: https://mahagst.gov.in/sites/default/files/Maharashtra%20Act%20No.%20I%20of%202024%20%28English%29.pdf