Estonia's Accidental Gambling Tax Abolishment Is Likely to Be Reversed : PMPMedia.io

By Arijit Roul - 15 Jan, 2026 More about the author

A legal expert in Estonia stated that the accidental end of the games of chance tax and remote gaming tax will face a fast reversal soon within the country.

ERR reported an error in paperwork, putting a 0% gambling tax for 2026 into Estonian law. The duty plan cut tax from 6% to 4% by half a percentage point each year and the law text named skill games instead of games of chance. The mistake caused a storm inside Estonia and operators expect no gain as the Finance Committee chair told ERR the law will change within a month. Karolina Ullman of NJORD Law Firm Estonia told NEXT.io the change will arrive before February and lawmakers may put it into a package of laws in the coming days. She stated the mistake had been found before and fixed in a draft and it entered the text at the end again. She said everyone now argues and blames AI or no AI and Estonia has few people and can change laws fast. She added that lawmakers need only days to change the text again.

Ullman said some operators plan to pay the tax without a change in law. Kevin McGowen of Bombay Group said the firm respects the law and intent and firms must act with care to build an industry that partners and communities trust. Ullman said the issue has not hit gambling politics in Estonia and Estonia has become a centre for offshore gaming in Europe in recent years. She said the event may affect Estonian politics and not gambling politics and politicians show anger and the issue will not alter gambling policy.