Representatives of some of the biggest gambling trade bodies in Poland have devised a joint statement opposing any kind of an EU-wide gambling tax.
As previously reported by SBC News, the idea of such a tax was first brought forward at the start of 2026 by Victor Negrescu, Vice President of the European Parliament (EP).
He is seeking a 1% blanket tax on the licensed online gambling sector in Europe as one of the additional income streams to generate billions of Euros as part of the Union’s 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework.
In June, Negrescu’s office confirmed for SBC News that the proposal has not been outright denied, and that in fact is gaining momentum throughout the political levels in Brussels.
Piotr Serafin, European Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, later said that the EU Commission is looking at all budgeting options, including the collective gambling levy.
EU Member State Malta and the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) trade body have already voiced their opposition to the proposal, and now it seems like the sector in Poland is also making its point across.
‘Unify everything, not just tax’
The four Polish organisations stated that they “strongly” oppose the introduction of a joint EU gambling tax, arguing that not only will this burden the sector financially, but it will also infringe on the provision of fair competition.
All co-signees pointed to a discrepancy between the stances of the European Commission and the European Parliament.
According to the statement, the gambling tax was not included in the EC’s original EU budget package presented in 2025. Meanwhile, EP continues to actively promote the measure as an additional source of budget revenue.
If European leadership eventually decides to put the collective tax to voting, the Polish stakeholders urged for a parallel introduction of uniform EU-wide rules protecting legal gambling entities from unfair competition in the face of illegal operators.
What this would essentially mean is the creation of a long-awaited standardised European gambling framework, previously thought impossible due to each member state’s individual gambling regulations.
“It cannot be accepted that the European Union harmonises the tax burden, while leaving the Member States with very different regulatory models, tax levels and market access conditions, leaving them alone in the fight against gambling crime,” the letter read.
“Currently, in the European Union, no legal operator has the ability to operate in all member states, at the same time, this is how illegal entities operate.”
No more fiscal burdens, says Poland
Back to the fiscal burden argument, the statement noted that licensed operators in Poland already pay 12% tax on turnover, which can consume more than 50% of an operator’s GGR.
This is on top of the costs associated with conducting regulated gambling activity.
“As a result, the additional tax may lead to a decrease in the competitiveness of legal operators, an increase in the attractiveness of illegal websites for consumers, and thus the outflow of some players to entities operating outside the law and a further increase in the shadow economy.
“This, in turn, will result in a reduction (rather than an increase) of the state’s tax revenues and an increase in risks for players who use the services of entities outside the control of Polish and European authorities.”
There’s already been an example where the treasury of a European nation recorded less revenue from gambling taxes, even when those taxes were previously heightened – namely the Netherlands.
Don’t think one-dimensional
Still, the Polish industry representatives were clear that they do not question the right of either the Union or Member States to shape fiscal policy. What they oppose is the idea of introducing additional hurdles for legal entities while offering no additional mechanisms to nurture fair competition.
Their counter-proposal instead suggests the creation of uniform market access rules for legal operators, enforceable EU-wide consumer protection standards, and more effective tools to combat the black market.
“Only this approach will make it possible to achieve the goal of simultaneously ensuring public revenues, protecting citizens, developing a legal market and effectively limiting the activities of illegal operators.”
The position was co-signed by the Board of the Polish Chamber of Commerce of the Entertainment and Bookmaking Industry, the Board of the “Bukmacherzy Razem” Association, the Board of the “Play Legally” Association, and the Board of the Association of Employers of the Entertainment and Gaming Industry.
SBC News insight: Neither the European Commission nor the European Parliament can impose a unified EU gambling tax on their own.
The proposal would need to go before the Member States, with unanimous agreement required for it to be adopted.
With Malta having already voiced its opposition in Brussels, the prospect of introducing such a tax remains uncertain.
Still, continued discussions around greater regulatory harmonisation across the EU could help create a stronger foundation for the future of Europe’s licensed gambling sector.
