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US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order introducing a 15% tariff on imported polysilicon and products made from the material, escalating Washington's efforts to protect strategically important industries and reduce China's influence over critical technology supply chains. Polysilicon is a key raw material used in the manufacture of semiconductors and solar panels. Under the order signed on Thursday, the United States will impose a 15% tariff on polysilicon and

Malta is preparing to challenge plans for a potential European Union-wide levy on online gambling, arguing that imposing a common tax at EU level could undermine national regulatory systems, distort competition and place additional pressure on an industry that is already subject to significant taxation and compliance obligations in individual Member States. The proposal has emerged as part of wider discussions about new sources of revenue for the EU's next long-term budget. T

Britain's increase in gambling-related taxation is beginning to have a visible impact on retail betting employment, while the Gambling Commission has postponed publication of the evidence supporting its Financial Risk Assessment (FRA) framework until the autumn. At the same time, the latest financial results from Europe's leading gambling operators highlight sharply contrasting fortunes, with FDJ UNITED slipping into a first-half loss as Lottomatica continues to strengthen it

Two separate lawsuits are challenging Washington state’s official description of a ballot initiative that seeks to repeal the state’s new income tax, setting up a legal dispute that could ultimately reach the Washington Supreme Court before voters decide the measure in November. On July 27, the sponsors of Initiative 645 formally contested the wording prepared by state attorneys to describe the measure’s fiscal impact. They argued that the language is misleading and unfairly

Dutch tax authorities have introduced a series of new VAT-related measures that are expected to reduce compliance costs for businesses by approximately €81 million each year. The savings are expected to come primarily from administrative simplifications, streamlined procedures, and a reduction in the reporting burden faced by entrepreneurs. The measures form part of a wider package of VAT modernisation reforms in the Netherlands, designed to make the VAT system more efficient

Kenya does not need to increase its Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to generate higher government revenue, according to a new study by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), which argues that improving tax administration, expanding compliance and leveraging digital tax systems would be far more effective than imposing higher tax rates. The findings come at a time when Kenya continues to debate its tax policy following a series of Finance Bills aimed

Pakistan's government has announced a renewed campaign against tax evasion, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directing authorities to identify individuals and businesses operating outside the formal economy and initiate legal proceedings against those found to be avoiding their tax obligations. The move forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen tax collection, modernise the country's revenue system and expand the national tax base. The directive was issued during a hig

The Korea Casino Association has urged the South Korean government to reconsider proposed regulatory changes that would increase the ceiling on tourism fund contributions for foreigner-only casinos and introduce mandatory five-year casino license renewals. In a statement released on July 22, the association warned that the proposed measures could undermine the financial health of casino operators, discourage long-term investment and put jobs at risk at a time when competition

Britain's incoming prime minister is being urged to reduce the energy levies paid by businesses as part of a broader effort to accelerate economic growth, according to a joint call issued on Tuesday by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Energy UK. With former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham expected to take office at Downing Street, the two organisations warned that persistently high energy costs are weighing heavily on businesses and undermining investment across

Macau’s government recorded gaming tax collections of MOP51.19 billion ($6.3 billion) during the first six months of 2026, representing a 13.1 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier, according to central account budget execution data. The rise in gaming-related tax income helped push Macau’s fiscal surplus to MOP13.28 billion ($1.6 billion) through June 30, marking a 14.7 percent improvement from the MOP11.58 billion ($1.4 billion) surplus reported du

The illegal online gambling market targeting consumers across the European Union expanded to an estimated €91.6 billion in 2025, representing an increase of approximately 14% compared with the previous year, according to figures unveiled during a European Parliament roundtable held on 6 July. The findings, presented by the European Casino Association (ECA), indicate that EU member states collectively missed out on around €22.9 billion in tax revenue as gamblers increasingly

Singapore authorities have charged the owner of Eminent Frog Porridge in connection with an alleged $3.8 million tax evasion scheme and offences involving suspected criminal proceeds, following a joint investigation by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD). The prosecution combines allegations of underreported business income, Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion, and the possession of assets that authorities allege repre

A new proposal to sharply increase taxes on high-street slot machines has reopened the UK debate over gambling harm, public revenue and the future of land-based betting venues. The proposal, advanced by the Social Market Foundation, would raise Machine Games Duty on higher-risk Category B machines, including many electronic gaming machines found in adult gaming centres, casinos, bingo halls and betting shops. The think tank argues that the measure could raise between £275 mil

The Netherlands’ gambling tax increase has delivered far less revenue than expected, raising serious questions about whether higher tax rates are damaging the regulated market instead of strengthening public finances. The Dutch gambling tax was increased in two stages. The rate rose from 30.5% to 34.2% on 1 January 2025, followed by a further increase to 37.8% from 1 January 2026. The policy was introduced as a revenue-raising measure, with the government expecting the gamb

The United Kingdom’s public finances are facing renewed pressure after official figures showed a sharp increase in borrowing and record debt interest costs for May. According to the Office for National Statistics, public sector borrowing reached £23.3 billion in May 2026. That was £5.4 billion higher than a year earlier and £5.6 billion above the forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility. It was also the second-highest May borrowing figure on record, behind only th

The European Commission has proposed a major overhaul of EU tax rules aimed at reducing business compliance costs by nearly €8 billion per year, as Brussels tries to make the Single Market simpler, more competitive and less burdensome for companies operating across borders. The package was presented on 24 June 2026 and includes two main initiatives: a Direct Taxation Omnibus and a recast of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation, commonly known as DAC. Together, the

Chile has broadened the scope of its simplified value-added tax (VAT) regime for digital services to now include foreign-based online gambling, casino, and betting platforms that supply services to consumers in Chile. The change was formalized through Resolution No. 69, issued by the Chilean Internal Revenue Service on June 2. Under the updated framework, non-resident operators providing online gambling services—including casino games and betting platforms—to individuals

The European Commission is reportedly examining the possibility of introducing an EU-wide tax on online gambling as part of a broader effort to identify new sources of income for the bloc’s next multiannual financial framework. According to reports , the measure is being discussed alongside potential taxes targeting cryptocurrency activity and large digital businesses, with the combined package projected to generate as much as €13.3 billion annually during the 2028–2034 budge

The regulation of online betting in Brazil is already producing a substantial financial impact on public accounts. During the first quarter of 2026 alone, the federal government recorded R$3.4 billion in revenue generated from licensed betting operators. The figure stands out not only because of its size, but also because it represents a 123.7% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, when collections totaled R$1.5 billion. Official data released by the Fede

Following the publication of Legal Notices 84 and 86 of 2026 on April 1, the Malta Tax and Customs Administration (MTCA) together with the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has revealed a series of forthcoming changes aimed at refining Malta’s VAT and gaming tax regimes. These reforms are scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026, marking a significant step in the country’s ongoing efforts to modernize its regulatory framework for the gaming sector. The initiative draws heavily