Government to debate online casino tax break once again
Estonia's government will revisit its online casino tax cut due to budget shortfalls, questioning its effectiveness in attracting operators.Summary
The Estonian government plans to debate the online casino tax reduction introduced earlier this year, as it has led to budget shortfalls. Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that if the measure does not generate additional revenue, further tax cuts may not be justified. A law passed in December reduced the gambling tax on online casinos from 6% to 4% over two years to attract more operators. However, the state budget has seen several million euros in shortfalls. The government aims to ensure that cultural funding is not compromised. While it is too early to assess the tax cut's impact, ERR reported in June that no new operators have registered in Estonia. The Riigikogu approved the amendment, led by Eesti 200 MP Tanel Tein, despite criticism from coalition members. The Ministry of Finance warned of significant budget gaps in subsequent years. A typo in the original bill, which would have allowed tax-free operation in 2026, was corrected in February.
(Source：Err)