The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has opposed the idea of a harmonised EU gambling tax, citing black market concerns.
On Tuesday, Victor Negrescu, Vice President of the European Parliament, addressed the plenary session by proposing a unified levy on European online gambling and betting providers to unlock more funding for social and health initiatives.
“Today, the online gambling market is one of the fastest growing digital industries, generating dozens of billions of Euros, yet the significant share of these profits escapes fair taxation,” he said.
“My proposal is simple and responsible – a European levy on the online gambling and betting industry, applied equally to the already existing national turnover taxes, while fighting for a clear EU directive against illegal unlicensed platforms.”
Negrescu further highlighted that such a levy could generate “€2bn-4bn per year” (£1.7bn-£3.5bn) in additional funding, going up to almost €28bn for the entire EU long-term budget.
“A coordinated EU-level tax would enable us to find a solution for the lack of EU resources by providing dedicated funding for education, skills, prevention, addiction treatment and mental health.”
The proposal is not yet officially formulated as a draft bill, In Negrescu view, the gambling sector benefits from EU single market rules and digital infrastructure, while still “operating under fragmented rules, unequal taxation and insufficient enforcement”.
In the @europarl, I called for a EU levy to finance education, skills, prevention & mental health applied on online gambling and betting. Glad to see growing support.
This fast-growing digital industry generates billions, benefits from the Single Market, yet escapes EU taxation.… pic.twitter.com/w2vJNa7r5R
— Victor NEGRESCU (@negrescuvictor) February 17, 2026
EGBA hits back at EU gambling tax
The EGBA, which represents a majority of European gambling conglomerates, has now responded that such a move would worsen market conditions, burdening companies with more tax on top of the mandatory national levies and limiting their offer – with black market operators always at the standby to fill the vacuum.
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of the EGBA, commented: “Such a proposal is fundamentally unworkable – gambling is not harmonised at EU level, and there is no legal basis or mechanism to collect such a levy.
“Even so, adding yet another tax to online gambling operators licensed in the EU – who already operate in a heavily taxed and highly regulated environment – would only benefit illegal operators who pay no tax.
“Because they pay no tax, illegal operators can offer players more attractive products and prices but without any of the essential consumer safeguards that licensed operators provide.
“Imposing an EU tax on top of existing national taxes would only make this situation worse: expanding the black market, harming European consumer protection and ultimately leading to lower tax revenues for Member States.”
Haijer’s argument that more taxes lead to loss of players does carry weight, as such trends are currently being witnessed across multiple European markets.
Last year, for example, the Dutch government introduced higher tax brackets that were meant to increase revenues for the Treasury.
However, it was later revealed that not only were there less taxes being paid as a result of lower GGRs, but also that the black market continues to grow – with a probable link between both.
Meanwhile, Germany’s tax-heavy policies that are also imposed on player wagers have led the country towards having one of the worst channelisation rates in Europe.
EGBA’s calls are unlikely to make Negrescu back down just yet.
He is a member of Romania’s Social Democratic Party, which is part of the country’s current tri-coalition government that has adopted a fiscal consolidation plan to raise public revenue, in part by increasing gambling taxes
Negrescu is seemingly considering a similar approach when it comes to Brussels-level policies.