The UK government announced higher taxes on online gambling in its latest Budget. Online gaming duty will rise from 21% to 40% from April 2026, while remote betting duty will increase from 15% to 25% from April 2027; UK horse-racing bets and land-based gambling rates remain unchanged, and bingo duty will end in April 2026.
Operators will face higher duties on online gaming and remote betting, while bingo duty is set to end.
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Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance reported €2.524bn in total gaming-related tax revenue for January-April 2026, down €213m or 7.8% year on year. Indirect tax revenue from gaming activities was €2.113bn, a fall of €247m or 10.5%.
Macau’s Financial Services Bureau reported gaming tax revenue of MOP34.87bn for January to April 2026, up 16.8% year on year. April collections totalled MOP9.07bn, 18.7% higher than a year earlier; gaming taxes made up around 84% of government revenue in the four-month period.
The Malta Gaming Authority and Malta Tax and Customs Administration will hold a stakeholder session in Malta on 27 April 2026 about forthcoming VAT and gaming tax changes. The authorities will explain their application ahead of the changes taking effect on 1 October 2026; attendance requests are due by 17 April.
The UK government’s Finance Bill 2026/2027 would change Remote Gaming Duty treatment for promotional plays, prizes and tournaments from 1 April 2027. It defines restricted play and gives HMRC power to make regulations on when gaming payments are waived; the changes follow tribunal rulings involving Jumpman Gaming and L&L Europe.
From April 2027, the Finance Bill would tighten how RGD treats promotional spins, prizes and tournaments. The UK government's Finance Bill 2026/2027 was published on Wednesday 4 November. The document also gives HMRC new discretionary powers over how Remote Gaming Duty is applied, without the need for more primary legislation.
HM Revenue & Customs published proposed changes on 28 October to UK Remote Gaming Duty rules for promotional plays, tournament participation and prizes. The proposals follow the Upper Tribunal’s decision to overturn a £13.2m assessment against Jumpman Gaming for periods between 2018 and 2022. HMRC expects the new rules to take effect from 1 April 2027.