Estonia’s typo error wipes out online casino taxes by mistake
Estonia has accidentally removed taxation for online casinos due to a simple typo in the law. The mistake replaced the term 'luck game' with 'skill game', effectively excluding classic gambling from tax rules. Officials have now acknowledged the error and confirmed it is the first such incident in over a decade.
The blunder was discovered after the amended law came into effect. Instead of taxing online casinos as 'luck games', the wording was changed to 'skill games', which fall under different regulations. Anneli Ackermann, Chairman of the Finance Committee, stated that this was the first major legal error of its kind since 2012.
Evelyn Liivamyagi, Vice Chancellor of the Ministry of Finance, publicly apologised for the oversight. She described it as a misunderstanding that would require a new law or amendment to fix. The Estonian Tax and Customs Board, which oversees online gambling regulations, will likely play a key role in correcting the issue. This is not the first time Estonia has faced problems with data-related mistakes. In July 2021, a statistical error led to an incorrect report of rising inflation. However, the current situation involves a direct legal change rather than a miscalculation.
The typo has left online casinos temporarily free from taxation until the law is corrected. A legislative fix will be necessary to restore the original tax rules. The Estonian Tax and Customs Board, which has regulated EU-licensed online casinos since 2010, is expected to address the issue in the coming months.
