Watching IPL Matches Gets Costlier as GST Jumps from 28% to 40%

Watching an IPL match at the stadium has become costlier now. The GST on tickets for the IPL and other big sporting events has been increased to 40%, compared to the earlier 28%. The steep hike has pushed IPL tickets into the highest GST category, along with casinos, race clubs, and luxury items.
IPL Tickets Get Costlier with Higher GST
Earlier, a ₹1000 IPL ticket had 28% GST → Total cost: ₹1280
Now, GST has been raised to 40%
The same ₹1000 ticket will now cost ₹1400
Fans pay ₹120 extra on every ₹1000 ticket
This is about a 10% rise in cost
| Ticket Price (Base) | Old Price (with 28% GST) | New Price (with 40% GST) | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹500 | ₹640 | ₹700 | ₹60 |
| ₹1,000 | ₹1,280 | ₹1,400 | ₹120 |
| ₹2,000 | ₹2,560 | ₹2,800 | ₹240 |
The new GST rule now applies the same rate to all IPL tickets and other big sports events. These tickets have been moved into the category of non-essential and luxury items. This means watching a match is now taxed in the same way as buying things like tobacco or using services like betting.
GST changes: Cheaper movies, costlier IPL tickets
Tickets for normal cricket matches will still have 18 per cent GST. But IPL and other big leagues will now be charged at 40 per cent, making them costlier than regular games.
Movie lovers are getting some relief as film tickets up to Rs 100 will now have only 5% GST with input tax credit, instead of the earlier 12%.
For tickets above Rs 100, the GST rate stays the same at 18%. The new tax rate is a part of a broader GST overhaul that taxes sin goods and high-end discretionary spending.