MPs legalize new sports funding model

The Seimas of Lithuania has changed the existing taxation scheme for lottery organizers. As of July, they will have to pay a 13 percent tax from sold tickets into the state budget.

The Lithuanian National Olympic Committee and the Lithuanian Paralympic Committee will be directly funded from the budget, and lottery organizers will no longer be obliged to allocate 8 percent of their revenue from sold tickets directly to sports.

On Thursday, lawmakers backed amendments to the Laws on Lottery and Gambling Tax.

Lithuania's sports sector is estimated to receive a couple of million euros more in funding next year, compared to the existing estimate of 20.9 million euros for 2022.

Currently, lottery organizers pay a 5 percent nominal value tax on their sold tickets into the state budget and also directly allocate 8 percent of revenue for sports.