European Parliament Keeps Online Gambling Levy in Budget Debate

The European Parliament approved its 2027 budget guidelines this week, keeping an online gambling levy on the table as a possible future EU funding source. The reference appeared in discussions around new “own resources” for the EU budget alongside digital taxes and crypto-related measures.

The proposal is still far from becoming policy. Parliament did not outline a tax rate, operating model, or timeline for a possible gambling levy in the adopted text. Even if the discussion moves forward, any EU-wide measure would still need backing from member states, which currently control gambling taxation and regulation at the national level.

In the resolution, lawmakers called for “new genuine own resources” to support the EU’s next long-term budget cycle. Online gambling appeared as one of several possible funding options being discussed during negotiations around the EU’s 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework.

For operators, the timing adds another concern at a point when tax pressure is already rising across parts of Europe. Markets, including the Netherlands and France, have either introduced or debated additional gambling taxes over the past 18 months, forcing operators to reassess margins and long-term market strategy.

The discussion also brings back a wider question for the sector: how far the EU could eventually push into gambling taxation. Licensing systems, tax models, and compliance rules still differ heavily between member states, with little alignment across the European market.

Trade bodies have already pushed back against the idea of an EU gambling levy. The European Gaming and Betting Association argued earlier this year that an additional EU-level charge would overlap with existing national taxation and weaken regulated operators competing against offshore sites.

💡 TGJ Take

Operators should not treat this as a direct tax change yet. The more important point is that online gambling has entered the same budget discussions as digital services and crypto activity at the EU level. That creates another layer of political and regulatory pressure for licensed operators already dealing with rising national taxes. Large groups can probably absorb extra compliance costs if the conversation develops further. Smaller operators and affiliates focused on high-tax European markets may have far less room to adjust.