[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1 link=same] [bsa_pro_ad_space id=2]

Skip to Content

Legislation

Spain – New taxes on gambling in Balearic Islands

By - 4 October 2022

The Balearic coalition government has decided to increase taxes on gambling as part of the soon to be presented draft of the 2023 Budget. The announcement came after a meeting between the president of the local government Francesca Lluc Armengol Socías of the PSOE (The Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands) and other lawmakers from the Podemos Party who pushed for gambling tax reform.

“We will raise taxes on slot machines, casinos and bingo halls, because what we need is to strengthen education, health and social services,” confirmed the spokesman for Podemos party in the Balearic Islands, Alejandro López, to Diario de Ibiza.

López said that new taxes on gambling would be a matter of “social justice” as gambling companies profited from operating “an activity that harms the population as a whole.”

The increased taxes are part of a much larger package of measures. Discussions between parties of the Balearic coalition government reached agreement on an increase to property transfer tax, which is applied to the sale of homes as well as the increase in gambling tax. 

It is yet another hammer blow for the industry. In January 2020 the government of the Balearic Islands approved the suspension of the granting of any new authorisations for the opening of gambling halls for two years. The two year period was supposed to give the government time to decide on new rules when it comes to where any new facilities could be built and the future of the industry in general.

Share via
Copy link