“The EU Needs More Money”: Polish PM Proposes EU-Wide Online Gambling Tax

^{Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland / © Shutterstock}

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has proposed that EU countries consider introducing a bloc-wide tax on online gambling. He made the statement at a press conference following a meeting of Visegrád Group* leaders in Bratislava.

“The EU needs to spend more money because it’s facing new challenges. I’d like these additional costs not to fall on citizens,” Tusk said.

Among the possible new sources of revenue, the Polish prime minister mentioned taxes on major digital platforms, crypto assets, and online gambling.

The idea of a separate online gambling levy has previously been discussed in the European Parliament. MEPs asked the European Commission to assess its feasibility, potential revenue, and legal basis as part of preparations for the EU’s 2028–2034 budget.

One of the proposal’s supporters is Romanian MEP Victor Negrescu, who has proposed a 1% levy on the revenue of online casinos and betting companies in EU countries. Supporters estimate that such a tax could generate between €2 billion and €4 billion a year, and up to €28 billion over seven years.

Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has opposed an EU-wide gambling tax, arguing that gambling taxation should remain a matter for individual EU member states.

The online gambling tax is not currently included in the European Commission’s official list of proposed new revenue sources.

* The Visegrád Group is an alliance of four Central European countries — Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary — formed to coordinate their positions and cooperation on regional and European issues.