Colombia’s government is considering changes to the gambling tax as part of measures to raise funds during the climate emergency, Finance Minister Germán Ávila said. A Constitutional Court order has provisionally suspended the emergency decree, including its 19% VAT on online gambling, while the court reaches a final decision.
Operators face uncertainty over a proposed tax change and the suspended 19% VAT provision.
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South Africa’s National Treasury is still discussing a proposed 20% national tax on online gambling gross gaming revenue, according to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 21 October statement. Lawyers Garron Whitesman and Wayne Lurie estimate the combined burden could reach 38–40% of GGR; the proposal is not enacted, and its final design is expected in the February 2027 budget.
The proposed 20% national online gambling tax in South Africa has raised concerns about its overall cost to licensed operators. The proposed tax is not yet enacted. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on 21 October 2026 that discussions on the tax design, its link to the current regulatory system and its effects on provinces and the regulated market were still ongoing.
Italy’s government approved its 2027 budget bill on 28 October, but the text remains under preparation and proposed gambling measures are not confirmed. Reportedly, the government is considering raising the PREU on AWP and VLT machines by one percentage point and extending several concessions by three years on more costly terms; the reported revenue target is more than €900 million annually in 2027-2029.
Italy's Council of Ministers approved the 2027 budget bill and the multi-year budget for 2027-2029 at a meeting on the afternoon of Wednesday 28 October, but the text of the measure is still being finalised. Only unconfirmed reports are circulating about some of the measures in the package, including on public gambling. According to those reports, the government is aiming to raise more than €900m a year from the sector over the 2027-2029 period.
Ireland’s government is reportedly considering increasing the 2% tax on customer stakes from 2027, alongside a previously announced rise in pool betting duty from 1% to 2%. The Irish Bookmakers Association urged the government to reject the proposal, warning of shop closures, job losses and increased illegal betting; the government’s stated aim is to raise revenue for the 2027 budget.
Thailand is considering a 0.01% tax on gold transactions to address money laundering linked to organised crime, including illegal gambling. The Bank of Thailand supports the proposal and plans wider information sharing between banks and state authorities.
Authorities in Thailand are weighing a levy of 0.01% that would apply to every gold transaction, part of a broader push against money laundering tied to organised crime, illegal gambling among it. Several of the country's financial institutions have thrown their support behind the proposal. Under the measure, every gold deal would be logged, which would give officials a fuller picture of transactions and make it harder for criminals to clean money through gold.
The European Commission is considering a 3% tax on online gambling as part of potential revenue measures for the EU’s 2028–2034 budget, according to a draft plan described in the report. The levy could raise as much as €1.9bn annually, while the wider measures across gambling, digital companies and crypto are projected to generate up to €13.3bn a year.