Latvia: Gambling tax rise to 18% brought forward
This legislation was originally set for implementation in 2027 but has now been brought forward.
Key points:
– Latvia has approved a gambling tax hike for the new year
– Taxes on gambling in the nation will rise from 15% to 18% on 1 January 2026
– This action was originally scheduled for 2027, but has now been brought forward
The Latvian Government has brought forward plans to implement a tax levy on the nation’s gambling industry, raising taxes from 15% to 18% as of the 1 January 2026.
In the wake of a spending review undertaken by Latvian ministers last month, the decision has been taken to leverage the nation’s gambling industry as a source for potentially enhanced tax revenue. Subsequently, the previous tax levy of 3% scheduled to be imposed on the industry in early 2027 has been brought forward to the upcoming new year.
Now, from the 1 January 2026, tax rates on interactive gambling revenues will rise from 12% to 15%, with telephone-based gambling tax rising from 15% to 18%. Elsewhere, annual taxes on table games will rise from €33,696 ($39,669) to €40,440 – with annual gaming machine taxes also jumping from €6,204 to €7,440.
Overall, it has been estimated by Latvia’s Ministry of Finance that these changes will result in an additional €9.2m raised on an annual basis – €175,000 of which will be distributed to the nation’s municipalities.
Commenting on this legislative change, Latvia’s Finance Minister, Arvils Ašeradens, said: “The integration of gambling oversight into the SRS will allow us to establish unified management faster, make better use of our resources and deliver higher-quality services to the public”
Good to know: Last week, the Dutch Lottery issued an official warning that raising taxes in the nation could drive players to the black market
Indeed, additional news from Latvia’s gambling market saw Scientific Games launch its new central gaming system for the Latvian Lottery back in 2023, following on from over 20 years of partnership between the supplier and Latvijas Loto.
Elsewhere, more recent tax related news has seen the Sri Lankan cabinet also green light higher gambling taxes in the nation, as well as doubling casino entry fees for locals. In the UK, political support for a gambling tax hike has also continued to grow, with Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell expressing support for the action last week.
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