Poker Writer
The Estonian parliament voted to amend the Gambling Tax Act and restore a 5.5% tax after lawmakers in the country accidentally repealed it at the start of 2026.
The amendment re-applies taxes on games of chance and remote gambling at a 5.5% rate. The change will take place on March 1.
The accidental repeal stemmed from a wording mistake that levied taxes only on “skill games,” leaving games of chance and remote gambling untouched.
The reintroduction of the 5.5% tax delays the original plan to decrease the gambling tax to 4%. Gambling taxes will fall by 0.5% per year until reaching the desired number.
Estonian lawmakers were left embarrassed by the whole ordeal, as several sets of proofreaders apparently missed the errors. Estonian legal expert Karolina Ullman told Next.io how embarrassing the episode was:
It’s very embarrassing. A lot of politicians have answered questions on ‘how can this happen? Didn’t you read before you agreed to pass this legislation?’ And everyone, of course, claimed that they read everything.
Two Months Without Tax
Because of the mistake, online gambling operators enjoy a dream come true. They get tax-free operation for two months, from January to the start of March. The law will not apply retroactively, so the operators can enjoy the benefits in the meantime.
Some operators, such as Yolo Group, said they were willing to keep paying even though they were not legally obligated within the timeframe. But voluntary contributions could not replace a statutory levy.
Lawmakers and operators worked to find a solution, with donations among the suggestions. But no clear workaround emerged during the period, and some operators gave unclear answers about whether they intended to donate.
Estonian officials worried that the lack of funds, due to a gap in tax revenue, would create budget shortfalls for culture and sports in the small Baltic country.
