Malta’s Prime Minister has said his nation will veto any attempts by the EU to introduce a bloc-wide online gambling levy, threatening to place the industry at the centre of febrile European politics.

Robert Abela has told Malta’s parliament that he would use his nation’s member state veto to block the passage of the next EU budget, if a proposed gambling levy is included.

The budget, formally known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), lays out how the EU will spend its €2trn budget from 2028 to 2034.

The prospect of adding a continent-wide tax to the budget remains only a proposal, but the idea has heavyweight backing.

Vice-president of the European Parliament Victor Negrescu is spearheading these efforts, arguing that a fast-growing digital industry that generates billions in revenue should be subject to EU-level taxation.

Negrescu says that the levy could generate between €2-4bn every year.

“This industry fully benefits from the EU’s single market, digital infrastructure and crossborder access, but operates under fragmented rules, unequal taxation and insufficient enforcement,” he said.

The online gambling sector might well quibble with the specifics of these claims.

The idea that it “fully benefits” from the EU single market may have been unassailably true in the point-of-supply era, but the subsequent fragmentation of national rules that Negrescu refers to has significantly complicated that picture.

Nevertheless, backing for the levy from a senior European politician has naturally spooked the industry and its primary champion within the EU, Malta.

The levy would be so damaging to Malta’s economic interests that it is willing to use its most powerful EU instrument by executing a veto in the European Council in order to block the budget from being approved.

That would likely plunge the island nation into the centre of a political firestorm, but recent history suggests that smaller EU nations and their allies can successfully disrupt budget negotiations.

During discussions over the 2020 EU budget, Poland and Hungary successfully secured concessions after they both threatened to veto the MFF over rule-of-law requirements.

Malta will also hope to rely on support from the Friends of Cohesion, an informal alliance of 16 nations concerned with regional development, of which it is a part.

Negrescu’s pledge to pair his levy with a “clear EU directive against illegal and unlicensed platforms” is unlikely to satisfy the online gambling industry, despite growing complaints of a rampant black market from a number of quarters.

Malta strikes again

In simple terms, Malta is seeking to protect an industry which accounts for 10 percent of its gross domestic product.

The nation has shown a clear willingness to ignore the EU’s wishes in order to shield the many gaming firms that host their headquarters within its borders.

Most notably, the creation of Bill 55 has successfully protected local companies from having to repay hundreds of millions of euros in player refund settlements.

Ongoing cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union suggest that Europe’s top judges will soon rule against Bill 55, which is now Article 56A of Malta’s gambling act.

The European Commission also launched infringement proceedings against Malta over the provision

Tax troubles.

There are so far no specifics on how the levy would be calculated or what value it would be set at, but beyond Malta an additional levy would also be extremely challenging for operators in European markets already struggling with high tax burdens.

This includes the Netherlands, where a government report released this week has shown that staggered increases to taxes of 37.8 percent of gross gambling revenue (GGR) have failed to deliver any benefit to the country’s budget.

Even a relatively slight increase to this tax rate could send more operators scurrying out the market and see channelisation dive further than its current rate of 55 percent.

Nations like France, where online betting is taxed at 59.3 percent of GGR, or Portugal, with its 8 percent turnover tax on online sports betting, would also feel an impact.

Negotiations over the contents of the EU budget are set to continue for several months, with the approval process expected to be completed in late 2026 or early 2027.

Leaders in the Council of Europe have agreed to come to a preliminary deal on the MFF by October, according to a coordinated statement issued earlier this month.

Malta’s devout opposition to a possible gambling levy is just one of a range of issues under discussion, including a stark divide between nations such as Germany, which favour spending cuts, and the Friends of Cohesion, who want additional cash for agriculture and regional funding.

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SiGMA Foundation is continuing its longstanding support for Dreams of Horses Farm in Xagħra, Gozo, strengthening a partnership built around mental wellbeing, inclusion, rehabilitation and practical care.

The farm, a long-term beneficiary of the SiGMA Foundation, provides equine-assisted learning and animal-assisted therapy for children and adults who benefit from structured support in a calm rural setting. Its work reaches children with special needs, adults managing mental health challenges and people on rehabilitation pathways, including former inmates and individuals facing social vulnerability.

The Foundation’s support has focused on both immediate needs and the programme’s future sustainability. In 2024, the SiGMA Foundation donated EUR 50,000 towards the construction of a new block at the farm, dedicated to Equestrian Assisted Learning and Animal Assisted Therapy programmes. The continued relationship reflects an approach that looks beyond single interventions, supporting the facilities and operational foundations that keep the farm open, stable and useful to the community.

In addition to this contribution, SiGMA Foundation is donating this year a further EUR 30,000 to support the farm’s ongoing operations and help sustain its therapeutic and educational work. The continued relationship reflects an approach that looks beyond single interventions, supporting the facilities and operational foundations that allow the farm to remain open, stable and useful to the community.

Dreams of Horses Farm has become a safe and structured environment where people can work with animals, develop routine and build trust through direct care. For many participants, the farm offers a setting where progress is measured not by pressure but by small acts of connection, confidence and responsibility.

Equine-assisted learning is increasingly recognised as a meaningful form of non-clinical support. Horses respond to human behaviour without judgement. Their sensitivity can help participants notice their emotions and actions in the moment, while grooming, feeding, leading and caring for the animals can encourage patience, communication and self-regulation.

For people experiencing anxiety, developmental challenges, trauma or social reintegration, this interaction can support emotional awareness, confidence, self-esteem and the ability to relate to others. The rhythm of farm life can also provide structure and purpose, especially for those rebuilding a sense of routine.

The farm’s programmes are designed for a wide range of beneficiaries. Children with additional needs can engage with animals in ways that support communication and social development. Adults facing mental health challenges can access a setting that encourages calm, responsibility and physical presence. People moving through rehabilitation pathways are given space to reconnect with themselves and others through constructive, care-based activity.

The partnership reflects the SiGMA Foundation’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote inclusion, wellbeing and opportunities for personal development. Through its continued investment in Dreams of Horses Farm, the Foundation is helping to ensure that therapeutic and educational programmes remain accessible to those who benefit from them most.

Victor Muscat, owner of Dreams of Horses Farm, has also spoken about the importance of the relationship between people and animals, noting that such interactions provide knowledge, sensory experience and emotions that are not always transferred through conventional education.

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Two new online slot titles go live across the UK and Malta iGaming markets, including a Player Link community mechanic.

Inspired Entertainment, Inc. has launched two new online slot titles—Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel and Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab—now available across the UK and Malta iGaming markets.

The company said Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel combines its Bigger Piggy Bank series with Player Link and a “Super Wheel” community feature. The title includes cash collection mechanics, a Free Spins Bonus and shared wheel prizes.

Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab brings back the Cops ‘n’ Robbers franchise with a 243-ways setup and multiple bonus mechanics. Inspired said the game includes Free Spins, Wheel Bonuses and random reel modifiers, plus optional features including Fortune Bet, Bonus Buy, Fortune Spins and Gamble, and a choice of volatility profiles.

Claire Osborne, Managing Director of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to evolve proven mechanics and themes that resonate most with players, and these two releases do exactly that. Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel offers a fresh social-style dynamic through Player Link, creating anticipation that builds beyond the individual player experience, while Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab brings one of our most recognisable game franchises back with more action, features and entertainment. Together, this duo offers operators two distinctive titles that combine proven gameplay with strong engagement potential and broad market appeal. Whether it’s smashing Piggy Banks or cracking safes, these games are built to keep players coming back for more.”

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