Ireland Leaves Online Gambling Tax Out Of EU 2028–2034 Budget Draft

The Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union has omitted a proposed common tax on online gambling from its latest draft framework for the EU’s 2028–2034 budget.

Ireland, which assumed the rotating Presidency of the Council in July, is overseeing negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

Its revised negotiating box proposes an overall spending ceiling of €1.62trn in constant 2025 prices, with the final figures still subject to negotiations between the EU’s 27 member states.

The framework is intended to fund the bloc’s priorities between 2028 and 2034, including competitiveness, research, innovation, security and defence.

Online Gambling Levy Absent From Draft

The current proposal does not include a common EU levy on online gambling as a potential source of revenue.

A gambling levy had previously been promoted by Romanian MEP and European Parliament Vice-President Victor Negrescu, a member of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group.

The proposal centred on a contribution of approximately 1% from online gambling operators, with supporters suggesting it could generate billions of euros for the EU budget.

Negrescu has argued that revenue raised through such a measure could support areas including education, youth programmes, mental health, addiction prevention and the protection of minors.

The proposal has faced opposition from parts of the gambling industry and Malta, where concerns have been raised about the potential impact of an EU-wide levy on member states’ authority over their individual gambling markets.

Alternative EU Revenue Sources Proposed

While gambling is absent, the Irish Presidency’s negotiating framework includes five proposed new revenue sources.

These cover the EU Emissions Trading System, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, tobacco products, electronic waste and the Corporate Resource for Europe (CORE).

CORE would introduce annual contributions from companies operating in the EU with net annual turnover of at least €100m.

The proposed tobacco contribution would be calculated using products released for consumption and minimum duty rates in individual member states, with a 15% call rate.

The wider package of new revenue measures is estimated to have the potential to generate approximately €55bn annually, although the proposals remain subject to negotiations between member states.

EU Budget Negotiations Continue

Malta has previously opposed the inclusion of an online gambling levy in the EU budget framework, while Prime Minister Robert Abela has supported other elements of the 2028–2034 budget discussions.

The European Parliament has also considered new revenue sources for the next budget cycle, with an online gambling levy among the measures previously proposed.

Ireland’s current negotiating document does not represent the final EU budget and discussions between member states are continuing.

Agreement on the MFF requires unanimity among EU member states in the Council before the regulation can be adopted with the consent of the European Parliament.