The bill on amendments to the Gambling Tax Act passed its second reading in the Riigikogu and six interpellations were answered
A Bill passed the second reading.
The Bill on Amendments to the Gambling Tax Act (793 SE), initiated by Member of the Riigikogu Tanel Tein, will remove a technical error from the Act and ensure clarity that games of chance and skill organized as remote gambling are taxed uniformly. The bill will omit the word “game of skill” from clause 7 of section 6 of the Act, as a result of which a 5.5-per cent gambling tax will apply to both types of games.
The Finance Committee had amended the initial effective date and had set the effective date of the amendment as 1 March 2026. According to the Gambling Tax Act, the general tax period for gambling tax is a calendar month. Consequently, the effective date of the Act has been set for the beginning of next month, which is in line with the current IT solutions and work arrangements of market participants and the tax authority.
The bill is related to an Act that was adopted by the Riigikogu on 3 December and that entered into force on 1 January which aimed to increase the funding of sports and culture through gambling tax revenues. The entry into force of the Act on 1 March will help to quickly restore the situation for market participants and tax authorities where both types of gambling are subject to taxation at the same tax rate.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, Vladimir Arhipov from the Centre Party Group, Aivar Kokk, Mart Maastik from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Mart Helme from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and Riina Sikkut from the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group and Kalle Laanet and Peeter Ernits took the floor during the debate.
Isamaa Parliamentary Group moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill, but the motion was not supported. 21 members of the Riigikogu voted for suspension and 50 voted against. The second reading was concluded.
The third reading of the bill is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, 10 February, at the plenary sitting, with a proposal to hold a final vote.
Nine interpellations were replied
Prime Minister Kristen Michal replied to the interpellations concerning the sharp increase in absolute poverty in Estonia (No. 866), the suspension of proceedings on the bill on hate speech (No. 868), Enefit Green’s investment in Tolpanvaara wind farm and the consequences of the sale thereof for the energy policy and renewable energy targets of the Estonian state (No. 870) and the significant increase in the price of communication services (No. 878), submitted by members of the Riigikogu.
Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi replied to the interpellation concerning the presentation of false information (No. 863).
Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis replied to the interpellation concerning support for the maritime sector (No. 874).
Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras replied to the interpellation concerning the closure of post offices (No. 872). The debate on the issue was adjourned due to the end of the working hours of the sitting. It will continue at the next sitting.
Replies by Terras to the interpellation concerning the reform of public transport in counties (No. 873) and the worsening of the economic situation of pensioners and families with children (No. 889) were also deferred.
The sitting ended at 11.59 p.m.
Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)
Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Riigikogu Press Service
Gunnar Paal
+372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837
[email protected]
Questions: [email protected]
