The European Commission is expected to examine a proposal that could introduce a common tax on online gambling across the European Union, opening a debate over one of the industry’s most significant fiscal changes in years.
The initiative stems from discussions surrounding the EU’s next long-term budget for 2028-2034, with supporters arguing that a dedicated levy on online gambling could become a new source of funding for the bloc. Estimates referenced during the debate suggest such a measure could generate between €2bn and €4bn annually.
At this stage, however, no formal legislation has been presented. The proposal remains under consideration, and any EU-wide gambling tax would require unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states before it could take effect.
The prospect of a common gambling levy has already drawn strong opposition from the regulated gambling industry. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) argues that gambling remains regulated at national level, meaning there is currently no legal framework for the EU to impose or administer a bloc-wide gambling tax.
EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer warned that adding an EU levy on top of existing national gambling taxes could weaken licensed operators while giving illegal gambling platforms a competitive advantage. According to the association, higher tax burdens could push more consumers towards unlicensed websites that do not contribute tax revenue or comply with European consumer protection standards.
Supporters of the proposal argue that online gambling has become increasingly cross-border, while tax systems remain fragmented across member states. They believe a common approach could help strengthen the EU budget and reduce differences between national taxation models.
The European Commission is now expected to assess the proposal as part of broader discussions on future EU financing. Even if the idea progresses, significant legal and political hurdles remain before any harmonised gambling tax could become reality. The final decision would require unanimous backing from every EU member state.