The coalition government in Latvia has announced the raising of additional budget revenue by increasing gambling tax and excise duty on alcohol.
The tax for gaming machines and gambling tables will increase by 10 per cent and €3m of additional revenue is expected to be collected in 2016 through this measure. That would increase to €6m in 2017 and to €9m in 2018.
More detailed discussions are expected to take place on increasing the excise duty on alcohol, but it is agreed by the coalition that this will raise an additional several million euros.
Prime minister Laimodota Straujuma has said that the additional revenue will be used for free lunches for fifth-grade schoolchildren and possibly train tickets discounts for families with at least three children.
Latvia has around 8,000 gaming machines in 323 locations, split between regular casinos and “arcades” that are effectively street location casinos without live tables, but housing slots.
