Gambling stagnates

Gambling companies took in €3.5bn last year, the same sum as in 2016, reported the tax authority FS. The stagnation came despite several cities banning gambling sites, leading to closure of 3,500 such places last year. The companies paid €2.7bn in winnings, €20m more annually. They also paid €197m to the state budget, €12m more annually. FS fined them €0.4m for various legal violations, the same sum as a year before.

(SME34/6)