Ireland drops EU gambling tax from €1.85trn budget draft
Ireland left the levy out despite a push from the European Parliament’s Socialists & Democrats group.
The hit
Ireland’s first draft of the EU budget 2028-2034 contains no common tax on online gambling, according to SBC News. Ireland, chief negotiator of the budget since July, left out the levy despite a push from MEP Victor Negrescu’s group.
Why it matters
The levy would have hit licensed gambling revenue across all 27 member states, funnelling money into education, addiction prevention & protection of minors. Opposition came from the European Gaming & Betting Association & Malta’s government, which argued it would override national control of gambling markets, according to SBC News.
The record
| Draft spending ceiling | €1.62trn in 2025 prices, about €1.85trn in current prices (Irish Presidency) |
|---|---|
| Proposed gambling levy | 1% tax on licensed EU gambling revenue, proposed by MEP Victor Negrescu (S&D) |
| Projected gambling tax revenue | €2bn-€4bn a year, about €14bn over the budget cycle (S&D) |
| Other proposed common taxes (projected) | up to €55bn a year from non-gambling common taxes |
| Opposition | Malta’s government & the European Gaming & Betting Association |
What happens next
The draft is non-binding. Final adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework needs unanimous Council agreement & the European Parliament’s consent.
Sources: Ireland omits common tax on iGaming from first draft EU Budget 2028
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