Central Europe
Sazka Group Asks EU to Probe Gambling Tax
Sazka Group AS has urged the European Commission to investigate a Czech tax on lotteries that it says unfairly grants a state subsidy to other gambling services.
Sazka said in a statement that it has asked the EU’s state aid unit to rule against a 35% tax on lotteries introduced in January, which it says puts betting and casino games that pay 23% in a more favourable financial position.
The Brussels-based commission said it will assess Sazka’s complaint.
The Czech finance ministry said in a statement that the different tax treatment is not discriminatory or an illegal form of public support because different gambling services do not directly compete.
