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Estonia Moves to Fix Gambling Tax Flaw as Finance Chair Survives Vote
Estonia's parliament has advanced a critical amendment to close an accidental tax exemption for online casinos, a legislative blunder that prompted an unsuccessful no-confidence vote against finance committee chair Annely Akkermann.
- —The Estonian parliament has passed the first reading of an amendment to correct a legislative error that inadvertently exempted online casinos from taxation for 2026.
- —The error in the Gambling Tax Law had placed the taxation of web casinos outside the scope of the law for the current year, prompting urgent legislative correction.
- —Annely Akkermann, chair of the parliament's finance committee and a representative from Pärnumaa, faced an unsuccessful no-confidence vote initiated by opposition MPs due to her role in the flawed legislation.
- —In a separate development, the Tartu city council voted to maintain free emergency medical visits for individuals under 19, rejecting a proposed five-euro fee.
Recap
The rapid legislative patch for the gambling tax law demonstrates the government's focus on fiscal integrity, while the failed no-confidence vote signals the ruling coalition's stability despite the error. Concurrently, a local decision in Tartu to protect free youth healthcare underscores a persistent focus on social welfare amid national demographic challenges.