Poland, currently holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union, is leading an initiative to combat illegal gambling. The country is proposing a unified approach to recover billions in lost tax revenue.
EU Tax Losses and Poland’s Initiative
Poland highlights the significant financial losses linked to illegal gambling, estimating that the European Union is missing out on up to €7.2 billion ($7.7 billion) in unrealized tax revenue. These losses have driven Poland to push for a joint approach to address the issue.
To achieve this, Poland is proposing the creation of a new working group under the European Commission. This group, consisting of national experts, would focus on harmonizing gambling regulations and enforcement practices across EU member states. The European Betting and Gaming Association has long supported such an approach and is calling for more active cross-border cooperation.
Cross-Border Cooperation and Technology
Poland, known for its firm stance on gambling, is actively leading efforts to promote the proposed changes. This initiative aims to establish more coordinated and effective measures against illegal gambling within the EU.
Signs of enhanced cooperation are already visible, such as the data-sharing agreement between Liechtenstein and Switzerland. This agreement ensures that individuals banned from casinos in one country will also be banned in casinos of the other country, applying to both land-based and online casinos.
According to Bloomberg, Poland is proposing to strengthen cooperation between EU member states in areas like AI-powered technologies and combating illegal websites, including those related to gambling.
Black Market Challenges Across Europe
Black-market operations continue to be a major concern across the EU, with countries like Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium struggling with high levels of illegal gambling despite existing regulatory frameworks.
In particular, Germany has faced a rise in shadow gambling, leading to disagreements between trade associations and the national regulator. Experts have criticized the regulator for underestimating the scale of the problem.
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