The European Gaming and Betting Association urged Austria’s government to replace its online casino monopoly with a multi-licensing system. EGBA said 21 other EU countries use such a model and estimated that a regulated market could generate up to €1bn in additional tax revenue by 2030.
The proposal would change online casino market access and taxation for operators in Austria.
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The European Parliament’s Budget Committee has tentatively asked member states to explore an EU levy on online gambling as part of its opinion on the 2028-2034 budget framework. EGBA said the measure lacks a legal basis and could strengthen illegal operators, weaken consumer protection and reduce member-state tax revenue; any new EU revenue stream would require unanimous agreement by all 27 states.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets called on member states to consider an EU-level tax on online gambling in its opinion on the 2028–2034 financial framework. EGBA opposed the idea, saying the sector is not harmonised and that the vote is a preliminary, conditional call rather than a formal proposal; it also said new EU own resources would require unanimous approval by all 27 member states.
The EGBA said a possible EU levy on online gambling would weaken consumer protection and reduce member states' tax receipts. The European Parliament's Budget Committee included the levy among potential revenue sources for the 2028-2034 budget framework; the association stressed that it was not a proposal or decision, and that any new EU own resource requires unanimous agreement by all 27 member states.
The European Gaming and Betting Association said a possible EU online gambling tax in the 2028–2034 budget framework could benefit illegal operators. The European Parliament's Budget Committee vote referred to considering the idea, not adopting a tax; a final decision on new EU own resources would require unanimous approval by the 27 member states. Parliament was expected to vote on the opinion in late April.
The European Parliament's Budget Committee proposed considering an EU-wide online gambling levy in an opinion vote on the 2028–2034 long-term budget, according to the report. The vote was tentative, and the proposal would require unanimous approval from all 27 member states. The EGBA argued that an additional levy could disadvantage licensed operators and benefit illegal operators; a parliamentary vote on the committee opinion was expected later in April.