Olympic Entertainment braces as Latvia preps gambling tax hikes

Gaming operator Olympic Entertainment Group (OEG) is facing a fresh threat to its bottom line after Latvia’s government announced plans to hike gambling taxes by nearly one-third next year.

On Thursday, local media reported on Latvia’s ongoing tax reform plans, which now include proposals to hike gambling taxes by 30%. The Finance Ministry is seeking to boost the annual tax on electronic gaming machines from €3,204 to €4,164, while annual levies on gaming tables would rise from €18k to €23,400.

The Ministry said the taxes, which would apply to 13 operators licensed to conduct gaming in Latvia, would provide additional tax revenue of €8.25m in 2018 and €9m per year after 2018.

Latvia is OEG’s largest market, and OEG was already facing a hit after the Riga City Council voted this spring to ban gambling halls in the center district of the nation’s capital city. OEG’s Latvian operations span 54 gaming venues, seven of which will be forced to close their doors in the coming years as their current licenses expire.