EXPERTS WORLD NEWS Estonia Considers Increased Taxes for Operators 11 months ago Samuel Post Views: 227 New draft legislation envisions significant tax hikes on all gambling products as part of the government’s 2023 gaming policy revisions. The Baltic nation’s new government is keeping true to its planned gaming reforms. Its newly proposed taxation policy update outlines small but incremental hikes across all forms of gambling. Estonia currently sports one of the lowest industry tax rates in Europe. The planned minor increase should still allow the sector to remain attractive despite tightening regulations. Operators Will Still Pay below Average Estonia has fully embraced the rising European trend of tightening gambling regulations and increasingly stringent customer protection measures. The country’s coalition government has predominantly rallied behind the cause, evident by the newly proposed Tax Laws Amendment Act. The document envisions sweeping changes across the private and corporate sectors, with a special section dedicated to gambling. According to the draft legislation, gambling companies will face sweeping tax increases. The 3% hike on lotteries should not affect private operators since the national lottery is a state-owned monopoly. This measure primarily targets retail companies organizing marketing initiatives and consumer games to promote their products. However, the planned increase in betting and online gambling means that Estonia will no longer tie with Malta as the lowest-taxed jurisdiction. The current 5% rate will jump to 6% in 2024 and 7% in 2026, contributing €8-13 million annually to the government’s coffers. Even with the increase, Estonia will remain among the most promising markets, meaning the gambling sector should retain its attractiveness. The Country Tightens Its Grasp on the Industry The low tax rate is one of the primary factors behind the explosive growth of Estonia’s gambling industry. With nearly 30 operators competing over the country’s population of just 1,33 million, the authorities have become increasingly concerned regarding the rise in gambling-related harm. The nation has followed the European trends towards more stringent gambling regulations, proposing a complete ban on advertisements. Industry representatives have rallied against these measures, calling for a more nuanced approach. They drew attention to the delicate relationship between sports stakeholders and operators, urging government officials to meet them for further discussions. However, the consensus between the ruling parties and the threat of rising societal costs seems sufficient for the authorities to proceed with their plans. Overall, the planned tax hikes and tightening regulations spell the end of the honeymoon period Estonian operators have been enjoying until now. If implemented, the measures will likely cause a temporary downturn, but examples from other European countries show that the industry can thrive even with similar restrictions. Source: gamblingnews.com About Post Author Samuel I am a journalist specializing in gambling in Africa and around the world. I am particularly interested in stories about games and casinos. See author's posts SamuelI am a journalist specializing in gambling in Africa and around the world. I am particularly interested in stories about games and casinos. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Tags: Estonia, gambling law, jurisdiction Continue Reading Previous Slotegrator expands into Brazil with new client XSA SportsNext KRA to milk more from betting craze More Stories EXPERTS SOUTH AFRICA The BiG Africa Summit 2024: Day Two Recap 2 days ago Iwo Bulski EXPERTS NIGERIA Bandits funding terrorism through crowdfunding, betting platforms 2 days ago Samuel EXPERTS KENYA Tappi expands services across Africa beyond Kenya and Nigeria 3 days ago Samuel CASINO WORLD NEWS NOVOVISIONTM improves business at the Venice Casino 4 days ago Samuel EXPERTS NIGERIA How NLRC Plans to Regulate Gaming 7 days ago Szarlot ONLINE WORLD NEWS Kajot start cooperation with Betfounders in Africa 7 days ago Iwo Bulski EXPERTS UGANDA Top 5 highest-paying jobs in Africa in 2024 1 week ago Szarlot EXPERTS KENYA The impact of Kenya’s Gambling Control Bill 1 week ago Samuel CASINO WORLD NEWS UAE creates gaming authority in sign it could be on verge of allowing gambling 1 week ago Szarlot ONLINE WORLD NEWS The Legality of Crypto Gambling Around the World 1 week ago Szarlot EXPERTS SOUTH AFRICA Celebrate Women in Gaming: Join Us at BiG Africa Summit 2024! 1 week ago Iwo Bulski EXPERTS UGANDA Uganda’s government cashes out from gambling boom 1 week ago Iwo Bulski Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.