Polish Prime Minister backs gambling levy for EU budget as Malta pushes back

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for serious consideration of an EU-wide gambling levy as member states continue negotiations over the European Union’s 2028–2034 budget.

Speaking after a meeting of Visegrád Group leaders in Bratislava, Tusk said the EU needs additional resources to respond to new challenges, while arguing that increased funding should not place the burden on citizens and workers. He pointed to major digital platforms, crypto-assets and online gambling as sectors that could contribute to EU funding.

The European Commission has proposed a long-term EU budget of almost €2 trillion for 2028–2034. The Commission's proposal includes new own resources, although an EU gambling levy is not currently part of its formal package.

MEPs have called for an online gambling and betting levy to be explored as a potential additional EU revenue source. Estimates cited in the European Parliament put the potential revenue at between €2 billion and €4 billion annually, depending on how such a levy would be structured.

Malta opposes an EU-wide gambling tax.

Prime Minister Robert Abela has said that gambling taxation should remain the responsibility of individual member states and has indicated that Malta would veto an EU-level levy if necessary.

The proposed EU budget covers priorities including defence, competitiveness, workforce skills, migration, digital security and climate resilience, while member states are also negotiating funding for areas such as cohesion and agriculture.

At this stage, there is no agreed EU gambling levy, rate or tax base. The proposal remains under discussion as negotiations on the 2028–2034 EU budget continue.