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Japan’s governing coalition has once again confirmed its intention to exempt overseas casino patrons from paying taxes on gambling winnings, reinforcing a long-standing policy designed to boost inbound tourism and attract international investment.   The commitment was reiterated in December during fiscal policy discussions between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Innovation Party, reviving measures that were first put forward several years ago.   The exemption for non-res

The Cypriot economy sustained a strong and steady course through December 29, 2025, with the government managing to steer through a challenging international environment while advancing far-reaching domestic reforms. Globally, uncertainty intensified early in the year as renewed trade frictions surfaced following tariff announcements by US President Donald Trump, reigniting concerns over rising inflation and a potential deceleration in global economic growth. These developmen

Poland’s president has vetoed legislation that would have increased the tax on gambling winnings, a move that has been welcomed by industry stakeholders who argue it preserves competitiveness and stability in the regulated market.   President Karol Nawrocki rejected amendments to the Public Health Act and the Personal Income Tax Act that had been approved by Parliament earlier this month. The changes would have raised the tax on winnings from competitions, games and mutual be

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEBE) has welcomed parliament’s approval of Cyprus’ long-anticipated tax reform, describing it as a decisive step towards modernising the country’s fiscal framework and reinforcing its competitiveness.   In a statement issued on Monday, the chamber said the reform “marks a historic step” in upgrading the tax system at a time when the Cypriot economy is seeking sustainable growth and increased investment. KEBE said the adoption of t

HM Revenue and Customs has secured a significant win in the Supreme Court after successfully challenging Hotel La Tour’s attempt to recover VAT linked to the sale of shares in one of its subsidiaries. The ruling marks a decisive conclusion to a long-running dispute over whether VAT incurred on professional fees connected to a share sale can be reclaimed when the proceeds are used for taxable business activities. The judgment was delivered on December 17 by a panel comprising

After almost a year of operating under a 19% value-added tax, Colombia’s gambling industry appears to be just days away from relief, following a decisive vote in Congress to reject legislation that would have permanently enshrined the levy.   Colombia’s Congress has voted down the proposed Financing Law, which sought to make permanent a 19% VAT on online gambling activities. The measure was defeated last Tuesday in the Senate’s Fourth Committee, where lawmakers voted 9–4 agai

Cyprus and Vietnam took another significant step in deepening their bilateral relationship on   Wednesday, signing a double taxation avoidance agreement aimed at enhancing economic cooperation and curbing tax evasion related to income taxes.   The agreement was formalised at the finance ministry in Nicosia and was signed by Cyprus’ Finance Minister Makis Keravnos and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Finance Cao Anh Tuan.   The convention is designed to provide greater clarity and

Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general of the Sweden Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS), has sharply criticised AB Trav och Galopp (ATG) CEO Hasse Lord Skarplöth’s call for Sweden to raise taxes on online gambling operators. Hoffstedt characterised the proposal as an act of “self-harm” that would damage the country’s regulated market.   Skarplöth’s suggestion, made earlier this week, urged Sweden to mirror the UK’s recent decision to increase tax levels on licensed onli

Brazil has settled on an 18% tax rate for fixed-odds betting operators, marking the latest and most significant fiscal adjustment in the country’s newly formed gambling regime.   The decision follows today’s approval by the Senate’s Committee of Economic Affairs (CAE), which endorsed the plan to lift the gross gaming revenue (GGR) tax from the existing 12% to 18% through a phased process beginning in 2026.   Under the CAE-approved proposal, the tax rate will rise to 15% by 20

The UK government’s 2025 budget was thrust into the spotlight earlier than intended on Wednesday morning after a leak exposed Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s plans—most notably a sweeping series of gambling tax increases designed to raise more than £1 billion from the betting sector. The premature publication came after the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) mistakenly posted its Economic and fiscal outlook online ahead of schedule. In its statement acknowledging the error, th

South Africa’s National Treasury has unveiled a proposal for a national 20% tax on gross gambling revenue (GGR) from online gambling, positioning the measure as a tool to reduce the social risks linked to the rapidly expanding digital betting sector.   In a discussion paper released on 25 November, the Treasury outlined plans for the levy to cover all forms of online betting, including interactive gambling platforms.   Although Treasury officials estimate the measure could ra

Morgan Stanley has been fined 101 million euros after Dutch authorities concluded that two of its entities facilitated the misuse of dividend withholding tax rules. The case arose from coordinated trading and derivative activity that temporarily positioned a Dutch subsidiary as the apparent recipient of dividends. Investigators later determined that the economic benefit of those dividends flowed almost entirely to foreign institutions not entitled to Dutch tax credits or refu

Shares in Evoke, the UK-based operator behind William Hill and 888, plunged today after the company cautioned that rising taxes on online gambling will sharply reduce profits and force a sweeping restructuring that could include thousands of job cuts.   The announcement comes on the heels of new tax measures unveiled by UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves in yesterday’s budget.   Under the government’s plan, taxes on online slots and games will jump from 21% to 40% starting Apr

Brazil’s latest attempt to sharply raise gambling taxes has stalled once more, as lawmakers postponed the vote on a proposal to double the current rate — and have yet to set a new date for its return.   The delay follows the collapse of an earlier provisional measure that sought to lift the gambling tax rate from 12% to 18%. In October, legislators introduced a new plan to raise the levy on gross gaming revenue to 24%, but despite multiple attempts, it has not advanced.   An

The European Union is preparing a new proposal to the United States aimed at advancing the next phase of the trade deal reached between the two sides earlier this summer, according to people familiar with the matter.   The plan, which has not yet been announced in the US, will center on five key areas, including the lowering of rates for additional products such as wines and spirits.   The initiative comes ahead of a meeting later this month between EU trade chief Maros Sefco

Brazil is poised to become a pioneer in global tax reform with the introduction of a unique value-added tax (VAT) system that promises to create a more competitive and investor-friendly economy, according to a new working paper published by the OECD Economics Department. The paper, titled “The reform of Brazil’s consumption tax system,” was released on Monday, November 10, and authored by OECD policy experts Jens Mathias Arnold, Piet Battiau, Falilou Fall and Karoline Spies.

Former Speaker of the House Arthur Lira has called on Brazil’s Federal Government to focus on combating illegal betting operations before pursuing higher taxes on licensed companies.   Speaking to journalists during an event in São Paulo, Lira said that betting is “inevitable” in Brazil and argued that prohibition is not an effective approach to managing the industry.   The congressman emphasized that authorities should prioritize enforcement against unlicensed betting platfo

Kenya’s latest overhaul of its gambling taxation framework under the Finance Act 2025 is being hailed by legal and fiscal experts as a potential windfall for government coffers—but the new policy also shifts the cost burden onto casual bettors, setting the stage for notable behavioural shifts across the betting landscape. The new legislation, which came into effect in July, replaces the former 20% tax on net winnings with a 5% levy on every withdrawal made from any betting wa

In a landmark reform of its corporate tax framework, the Maltese government officially enacted the Final Income Tax Without Imputation Regulations on September 2, 2025, introducing a 15% elective final tax on company profits. The move marks one of the most significant overhauls of Malta’s business taxation system in recent years, offering what the government describes as a simpler and more transparent alternative to the long-standing imputation and refund model. From 35% to a

President Donald Trump hailed his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea as a major breakthrough, announcing that he would cut tariffs on China while Beijing had agreed to resume exports of rare earth elements and purchase American soybeans. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the U.S. would lower tariffs imposed earlier this year as a penalty for China’s sale of chemicals used to produce fentanyl—from 20% to 10%. The move effectively redu