Šuvajevs proposes allocating 3% of alcohol and gambling taxes to sports fund

MP Andris Šuvajevs, representing the Progressives Saeima faction, proposes amending the State Sports Fund law to mandate that from 2027, at least 3% of planned state budget revenues from excise tax on alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, as well as 3% from lottery and gambling taxes, be allocated to the fund.

The proposal was submitted for the second reading of the draft law. Šuvajevs points to a similar mechanism in the State Culture Capital Fund, which already has a fixed allocation from specific revenue sources. He argues that the sports sector needs the same stability to avoid being affected by annual budget fluctuations.

The politician emphasizes that sports improve public health and well-being, making it justified to fund them through taxes on harmful habits. He also notes that the proposal does not involve reallocating funds from the Culture Capital Fund—it is a separate earmark for sports.

Šuvajevs also suggests that the State Sports Fund should only become operational after additional state budget funding is provided for its operations and administrative costs. This condition is intended to ensure that the fund's establishment does not come at the expense of existing sports financing.

As previously reported, Saeima deputies supported the first reading of the bill in early June. The State Sports Fund is planned as a public foundation that would administer project competitions, targeted programs, and other financing instruments. This would separate sports policy planning from funding administration, with clear criteria and regular monitoring for fund distribution.