EU-Wide Gambling Tax? Polish PM Donald Tusk Pushes for New Revenue Stream

A significant shift in European gambling policy might be on the horizon as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk brings a controversial proposal to the table in Brussels. During a meeting of Visegrad Group leaders in Bratislava, Tusk called for serious consideration of an EU-level gambling tax. This move is intended to secure funding for the European Union's next long-term budget spanning 2028 to 2034. Tusk's rationale focuses on identifying new revenue sources that do not place additional financial pressure on the workforce, instead targeting digital services, cryptocurrencies, and gambling.

The idea of a levy on online betting is not entirely new to the halls of the European Parliament, but Tusk's endorsement provides fresh momentum. The Parliament has already identified online gambling as a potential source of 'own resources' for the EU budget. Estimates suggest that such a levy could be highly lucrative for the bloc's finances.

“I would like the European Parliament’s proposal concerning taxes on gambling and cryptocurrencies to be taken seriously.” - Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland

Numbers and facts

Parliamentary estimates cited in budget discussions indicate that an online gambling levy could generate between 2 billion and 4 billion euros per year. However, no specific tax rate or structure has been agreed upon yet. The context of Tusk's home market in Poland highlights why this is a sensitive issue for operators. Poland currently enforces a 12 percent turnover tax on sports betting, one of the highest in Europe. Data from H2 Gambling Capital shows that the total sports betting Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in Poland reached 1.62 billion euros in 2026, based on a projected turnover of 5.07 billion euros. High taxes in Poland have already led to high margins of around 32 percent, as operators struggle to offset the heavy fiscal burden.

Background

Despite the political enthusiasm from some leaders, the path to an EU-wide gambling tax is fraught with legal and political obstacles. Taxation remains a sovereign issue for member states, and any change to the EU's revenue system requires unanimous approval from the Council. Furthermore, each member state must approve the decision according to its national constitutional procedures. For the gambling industry, the primary concern is the potential for an additional layer of taxation on top of existing national duties. This is particularly relevant in markets like Germany, where the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021) has already established a complex and highly taxed environment.

Why it matters for German players

For players in Germany, an EU-wide tax could have direct consequences on their gaming experience. Germany's market is strictly regulated by the GGL (Joint Gambling Authority of the States), featuring a 1,000 euro monthly deposit limit across all platforms via the LUGAS system and a 1 euro per spin limit on virtual slots. If an additional EU tax is implemented, licensed operators might be forced to lower payout ratios or reduce bonus offers to remain profitable. This could inadvertently drive players toward illegal offshore sites that do not adhere to EU tax laws or German player protection standards, undermining the primary goal of the GlüStV 2021, which is market channeling.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

Operators currently holding a GGL license already face significant compliance costs. A new EU levy would represent another financial hurdle in an already tight margin environment. Hermann Pamminger, Secretary General of the European Casino Association, has noted that managing heavy tax burdens without compromising the consumer experience is nearly impossible. If the EU adds a tax layer on top of the German turnover tax for slots and poker, the competitive advantage of legal operators over the black market will continue to shrink. The industry will be watching closely to see if Tusk’s proposal gains enough traction to overcome the high threshold of unanimous consent in Brussels.