Online Gambling Laws in Latvia

Giuseppe Faraone
Senior Author
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Home to the live casino game studios of leading providers like Playtech and Evolution, Latvia takes quite a permissive approach to gambling, with the country's regulations generally allowing most forms of gambling. However, if you're a Latvian or resident of Latvia considering gambling at an unlicensed site, this article contains some important information. Read on to learn more.

Gambling regulations in latvia

Gambling Regulation by Casino Type

The Gambling and Lotteries Law made gambling in Latvia legal in 1998, with amendments making online gambling legal in 2006. Operators are required to hold a licence, which can be obtained from the Latvia Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection. Let's take a closer look at gambling regulations in Latvia by each gambling activity.

Casino Games

Casino gambling is legal in Latvia and has been since 1998, with operators required to obtain a licence from the Latvian Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection. Casino venues in the country consist of 5 proper land-based casinos, most of which are located in the capital Riga, and numerous slot halls.

Online casino gaming is also legal in Latvia and has been since 2006, but only at licensed sites. Latvia takes a very strict stance regarding gambling at unlicensed online casinos, with those found doing so facing a fine of €350 for each visit plus any taxes due on the winnings and an extra fine on top.

Since 2020, ISPs and financial institutions in the country have been obliged to pass on the details of those caught gambling at unlicensed casinos. As a Latvian, you must play online casino slots, table games and live dealer games only at licensed online casinos to avoid prosecution and fines.

Poker

Similarly, land-based poker gambling has been legal in Latvia since 1998. However, poker isn't very popular in the country, despite at least 2 Latvian professionals with earnings over $1 million. Players can enjoy the game at one of the country's five casinos. There are no standalone poker halls in Latvia.

Since 2006, online poker gambling has been legal in Latvia, but it isn't particularly popular among Latvians. Operators must hold a licence to provide poker gambling services to Latvia residents, with unlicensed sites actively blocked and players facing fines for gambling at them.

Bingo

Bingo gambling has been legal in Latvia since 1998, with games played as a secondary activity at many of the country's slot halls under licence. Unlike the monopoly situation of the national lottery in Latvia, other companies besides the state-owned Latvijas Loto can apply for a licence to offer bingo games to residents.

Online bingo gambling is also legal in Latvia, with regulations permitting the activity since 2006. Operators must hold a licence to provide their services to Latvians, with unlicensed sites actively blocked and players facing fines. Latvijas Loto's Super Bingo game can also be played online.

Lotteries

Lottery gaming is legal in Latvia in both offline and online forms. While the country's national lottery is a monopoly by Latvijas Loto, smaller local lotteries can be run by any company if they hold a valid licence. Latvians looking to play online lottery games for real money can do so via Latvijas Loto's website, which offers keno, bingo, scratchcards and lottery tickets.

Social Casinos and Crypto Casinos

Regarding Latvia's gambling regulations, borderline activities such as social gambling (i.e., using play chips to play online casino games), loot boxes and skins gambling are not specifically mentioned.

Unlike other countries in the region, Latvia has officially recognized Bitcoin as a currency, with the law changed to allow the country to charge tax on the crypto coin. That means the country's licensed casinos can accept Bitcoin as a currency. Latvians can also play online casino games using various cryptocurrencies at licensed crypto casinos.

Sportsbet laws

Latvia Sports Betting Laws

Betting on sports in Latvia has been legal since 1998, with 11 licensed bookmakers serving the country. Latvia's national sport, ice hockey, is the most popular choice with punters, followed closely by football.

Online sports betting has been legally permitted in Latvia since 2006, with operators required to hold a licence to offer online sports betting services to the country's residents. There aren't many such licensed online bookmakers serving the country, though. Fantasy sports betting isn't specifically mentioned in current Latvia gambling regulations.

Gambling Age Restriction

Although unofficially, Latvia's casinos have a voluntary minimum age for entry of 21, the legal gambling age in the country is 18.

Tax Regulation

Latvia's gambling tax regulation dictates that most offline forms of gambling are subject to tax based on the number of tables or machines in operation. For example, there's a tax charge of €28,080 per roulette wheel/card or dice machine per year, with all other gambling machines charged €5,172 per machine per year. Lottery game operators are charged a 10% tax on ticket sales, and operators of all other forms of gambling are charged between 10% and 15% based on revenue.

For players, there's a tax-free gambling winnings allowance of €3,000. Above that amount, gambling winnings are taxable like any other form of income.

History of Gambling Laws in Latvia

All forms of gambling were illegal when Latvia was under the control of the USSR from 1940 until 1991. When Latvia regained its independence, the country's first casino opened, but there was no legal framework regarding gambling at the time. The Law on Gambling and Lotteries came into force in 1998, and along with it, a new body was created called the Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection, which regulates the industry and issues licences.

After key changes to the Gambling and Lotteries Law in 2005, online gambling was legalized in Latvia in 2006, but with strict conditions, especially regarding players. Unlicensed gambling sites are actively blocked by ISPs, financial institutions in the country are legally obliged to pass on the details of those gambling at unlicensed sites, and players can be fined €350 for each visit to such sites.

Key facts

Key Facts

Latvia's gambling laws are pretty clear-cut, with most forms of gambling in the country deemed legal under licence. Here's a brief overview of the legal situation as it pertains to gambling in Latvia:

  • Casino gambling is legal in Latvia, with operators required to hold a licence to offer offline and online games such as slots, table games and online live casino games.
  • Bingo and poker gambling are legal in Latvia, again under licence, although neither are very popular.
  • Lottery gambling is legal in Latvia, but the country's national lottery operates under the monopoly control of Latvijas Loto.
  • Sports betting is legal in Latvia, with both offline and online operators required to hold a licence.
Giuseppe Faraone

Giuseppe Faraone

Author & Online Gambling Expert

1139 Articles
Being so close to the action in iGaming, Giuseppe is on top of any new developments the minute they come through the door, as his book is testament to. Published in October 2022, his first book; The Untold Story of Online Gambling is available on Amazon.
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