Donald Tusk raises gambling tax proposal during EU budget debate

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for serious consideration of a gambling tax at European Union level as policymakers examine possible new sources of revenue for the bloc's 2028-2034 long-term budget.

The issue emerged during discussions surrounding the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework. Tusk indicated that funding for future European priorities should not rely solely on measures that could increase pressure on workers and households.

Instead, he pointed to several sectors that could potentially contribute more to EU finances, including gambling, cryptocurrencies and large digital businesses.

“I would like the European Parliament’s proposal concerning taxes on gambling and cryptocurrencies to be taken seriously,” Tusk said.

His comments add political visibility to an idea that has already appeared in discussions at the European Parliament. However, the proposal remains subject to further political, legal and institutional consideration. No EU-wide gambling tax has been adopted and there is currently no confirmed timetable for implementation.

Gambling tax already part of wider EU revenue discussion

The European Parliament has considered an online gambling and betting levy as one of several possible new own resources for the next EU budget cycle.

A parliamentary question submitted in March 2026 referred specifically to the possibility of creating a harmonised EU-level levy on online gambling and betting services. The document said estimates from Parliament's Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services indicated that such a measure could potentially raise between €2 billion and €4 billion annually. Over the full 2028-2034 financial period, the potential total was estimated at close to €28 billion.

These figures are estimates rather than committed budget revenues. They do not represent money that has already been approved or collected by the European Union.

The proposal is being considered alongside other potential sources of funding. Discussions have included measures relating to digital services and crypto assets as policymakers consider how to strengthen the EU's revenue base.

The broader objective is to identify additional resources that could help support European priorities without placing a disproportionate burden on national budgets or individual taxpayers.

No final EU gambling tax model has been agreed

Despite growing political attention, the concept of an EU gambling tax remains at an exploratory stage.

The European gambling market is not governed by a single EU-wide tax framework. Gambling regulation and taxation are largely determined at national level, resulting in substantial differences between member states.

Those differences affect licensing arrangements, tax bases, reporting requirements and the level of duties imposed on gambling businesses.

Poland itself already operates a national gambling tax framework. The Polish Ministry of Finance states that gambling activities covered by the country's rules are subject to gambling tax and that the system applies to relevant licensed or authorised providers as well as certain activities covered by state monopoly arrangements.

A European measure would therefore need to consider how any new contribution could coexist with existing national taxation systems.

That question could become one of the most important elements of future negotiations. Operators already subject to national gambling duties could face concerns about whether a new EU levy would represent an additional financial obligation or replace part of an existing national burden.

EU budget process creates a significant legal hurdle

The potential introduction of a new own resource for the EU budget would involve a demanding legal and political process.

Under the EU treaties, decisions concerning the system of own resources require unanimity in the Council following consultation with the European Parliament. The resulting decision must then be approved by all member states in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

This means that a political statement in support of a gambling tax does not mean that the measure is close to becoming law.

The next long-term budget itself also follows a special legislative procedure. The Council must reach agreement and the European Parliament must give its consent. The current EU timetable anticipates political work during 2026 followed by formal adoption steps in 2027, with the new financial framework scheduled to begin in 2028.

An EU-wide gambling tax would therefore have to move through a separate and highly sensitive policy process before operators could be required to make any payments.

Gambling industry faces questions over possible additional costs

For gambling companies operating across European markets, the central concern will be the design of any future levy.

A broad tax applied to online gambling and betting could affect operators differently depending on how the measure is structured.

Questions would include whether the charge is calculated from gross gaming revenue, turnover, profits or another tax base. Policymakers would also need to determine which operators and activities fall within scope and how enforcement would work when services are offered across borders.

Another issue is the relationship between licensed businesses and the illegal market.

Any additional compliance cost imposed on regulated operators could become part of a wider policy debate about maintaining a competitive legal market while protecting consumers and public finances. Parliament's own discussion of a possible EU gambling levy has highlighted the need for effective enforcement and transparency.

The policy challenge is therefore broader than simply setting a percentage rate.

National gambling systems remain central to taxation

The current system across Europe gives member states considerable control over gambling taxation and market regulation.

Poland provides one example of how national authorities combine licensing rules, market controls and tax obligations. The Polish Ministry of Finance describes gambling as a regulated activity requiring an appropriate concession, permit or notification depending on the type of operation.

Such national frameworks demonstrate why harmonising taxation across multiple jurisdictions could be complicated.

Different countries may have different policy objectives, market structures and fiscal priorities. Some governments may favour higher gambling taxation to increase public revenue while others may place greater emphasis on market competitiveness or controlling the growth of unlicensed activity.

An EU-level levy would have to take these differences into account without creating uncertainty for businesses or encouraging activity to move outside regulated channels.

Potential revenue could support wider EU priorities

Supporters of a gambling levy have framed the idea not only as a fiscal measure but also as a potential way to fund broader European objectives.

The European Parliament discussion linked possible gambling-sector contributions to areas including education, digital skills, youth policies, mental health and addiction prevention.

That framing could become important in future political negotiations because it presents the measure as a targeted contribution from a specific sector rather than a general increase in taxation.

At the same time, any proposal would need to demonstrate that the expected revenue is realistic and that collection would be administratively practical.

The estimated €2 billion to €4 billion annual range has attracted attention because of its potential scale. Yet estimates remain dependent on assumptions about market activity, the eventual tax structure and the scope of the levy.

What Tusk's position means for the debate

Tusk's intervention gives additional political weight to an issue that was already being examined within European institutions.

His remarks do not amount to a formal proposal for legislation and do not establish the final form of a gambling tax. They do, however, signal that the subject can form part of the broader debate over how the EU should finance its next long-term budget.

The coming stages are likely to focus on whether member states can agree on new own resources and how those measures should be structured.

For gambling operators, suppliers and investors, the issue is likely to remain one to monitor closely rather than an immediate regulatory change.

A decision that remains some distance away

The possibility of an EU gambling tax reflects a wider European search for additional revenue streams as policymakers prepare for the 2028-2034 budget framework.

Donald Tusk's support brings greater political attention to the discussion, while the European Parliament has already identified online gambling and betting as a potential source of new EU revenue. Parliament's estimates suggest the financial opportunity could be significant, but the proposal remains far from implementation.

Any future levy would have to overcome legal requirements, secure agreement among member states and define how it would interact with existing national gambling taxes.

For the industry, the most important developments will therefore be the substance of any formal proposal, the treatment of existing national duties and the safeguards designed to prevent additional taxation from undermining regulated markets.

At this stage, the gambling tax debate should be understood as part of the EU's wider budget negotiations rather than as an imminent new charge on gambling companies. Much will depend on the political compromises reached over the coming stages of the 2028-2034 budget process.

Conclusion

The renewed discussion around an EU gambling tax signals that gambling could become part of a much broader debate about how the European Union funds its long-term priorities. Donald Tusk's comments have brought additional political attention to a proposal that is already being examined at European level, but they do not indicate that a new levy has been approved or that implementation is imminent.

The central issue will ultimately be finding a workable balance between revenue generation, regulatory consistency and the sustainability of Europe's licensed gambling markets. Any EU-level measure would need to account for the taxes already imposed by individual member states while providing clear rules for operators working across multiple jurisdictions. Policymakers would also need to consider enforcement, market competitiveness and the potential consequences for consumers and regulated businesses.

The estimated revenue associated with an online gambling levy makes the proposal significant, particularly as the EU considers the financial demands of the 2028-2034 budget period. However, the political and legal requirements involved mean that substantial negotiations would still be necessary before the concept could become an enforceable measure.

For the gambling industry, the debate is therefore best viewed as an important policy development rather than an immediate tax change. The eventual outcome will depend on negotiations between European institutions and member states, as well as decisions over the structure and scope of any future levy. Until those questions are resolved, the proposed gambling tax remains a developing element of the EU's wider search for sustainable new sources of revenue.

FAQs

What is the proposed EU gambling tax?
The proposed measure is an idea for an EU-level levy on online gambling and betting that could serve as a new source of revenue for the European Union. It has been discussed within the European Parliament but has not been adopted.

Has the EU approved a gambling tax?
No. There is currently no approved EU-wide gambling tax. Any new own resource would require further institutional agreement and approval by member states under the EU's legal procedures.

How much could an EU gambling levy raise?
Parliamentary material has referred to estimates of between €2 billion and €4 billion per year. These figures are estimates and should not be treated as confirmed future revenue.

Why has Donald Tusk supported the idea?
Tusk has argued that the EU should seriously consider proposals involving sectors such as gambling and cryptocurrencies when examining new ways to finance its future budget without increasing pressure on workers.

Would an EU gambling tax replace national gambling taxes?
There is no agreed structure at present. A future proposal would need to determine how an EU-level levy would interact with existing national gambling taxes and duties.

What is the 2028-2034 EU budget?
The 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework is the European Union's next long-term financial planning period. It is intended to determine spending priorities and revenue arrangements for those seven years.

Would gambling companies automatically pay more tax?
Not at this stage. There is no approved EU-wide levy and therefore no current additional EU tax obligation arising from this proposal.

Could the levy affect online betting operators?
Potentially, depending on its final design. The European Parliament discussion specifically refers to online gambling and betting services as possible areas for an EU-level contribution.

Why is introducing a new EU tax difficult?
EU own resources are subject to strict legal procedures. The relevant decision requires unanimity in the Council and subsequent approval by all member states according to their constitutional requirements.

When could an EU gambling tax take effect?
There is no confirmed implementation date. The 2028-2034 budget process is ongoing and any gambling levy would require additional political and legal steps before it could become operational.