On April 28, the European Parliament approved an interim report on the EU's multiannual budget for 2028-2034 with a vote of 370 in favor and 201 against. The report proposes exploring the introduction of a unified European tax on online gambling, alongside taxes on crypto assets and large tech companies.
The authors of the report believe that the online gambling tax is a fallback measure, to be considered if the primary sources of budget revenue do not receive support from EU member states. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has labeled the proposal as unworkable due to the already high tax burden in EU countries. EGBA Secretary General Maarten Hayer stated that there is no legal basis for its implementation.
This document reflects the position of the European Parliament, but for the tax to be actually implemented, a unanimous decision from all 27 EU countries is required. Malta, Estonia, and Cyprus have already opposed the initiative.