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Online casinos in Latvia
Latvia is one of the most mature and transparent gambling jurisdictions in Eastern Europe.
The state has built a strictly regulated, but open to investors gambling system that balances economic benefits and player protection.
Online casinos in Latvia are legal, nationally licensed and an important part of the country's digital economy.
Legislative framework
Gambling activities are regulated by the law "Azartspēļu un izložu likums" (Law on Gambling and Lotteries), adopted in 2005 and repeatedly updated (including major amendments in 2020 and 2023).
Market control is carried out by:- Lotariju un azartspēļu uzraudzības inspekcija (IAUI) - Inspectorate for Supervision of Lotteries and Gambling;
- Ministru kabinets (Council of Ministers) - approves licensing and taxation rules.
- online and offline casinos, bingo, slots and betting;
- activities of lotteries and gaming halls;
- advertising and Responsible Gaming measures;
- personal data protection and anti-money laundering (AML).
Licensing
Gambling in Latvia requires an IAUI license.
Licenses are issued for both terrestrial and online operators.
Main requirements:- registration of the company in Latvia;
- minimum capital - €1,400,000;
- security deposit - €300,000;
- equipment and RNG certification (GLI, iTech Labs, eCOGRA);
- availability of offices and technical infrastructure in the country;
- annual confirmation of financial sustainability.
License term: 5 years with the right to renew.
Major licensed operators:- Optibet. lv (Enlabs/Entain Group)
- 11. lv (Betsson Group)
- OlyBet. lv (Olympic Entertainment Group)
- Pafbet. lv
- Fenikss Casino
- Laimz. lv
- MrGreen. lv
Taxation
Latvia adheres to one of the most transparent tax systems in the EU.
Optional:- Corporate tax - 20% (when distributing profits);
- 1.5% of GGR goes to the Responsible Gaming fund;
- winnings of players up to €3,000 are not taxed, over - tax 23%.
According to IAUI for 2024, the total income of the gambling market in Latvia exceeded €400 million, of which more than 60% falls on the online segment.
Online gambling
Online gambling in Latvia has been legal since 2013.
Operators are required to have a national license and connection to the IAUI system, which fixes all rates and payments in real time.
Popular online platforms:- Optibet. lv is the largest national operator;
- 11. lv и OlyBet. lv - leading brands with European licenses;
- Pafbet. lv, Laimz. lv, Fenikss. lv - local casinos with live dealers;
- international sites (Bet365, 1xBet, Stake) are officially blocked, but some players bypass restrictions using VPN.
- video slots from Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Play 'n GO, Novomatic, EGT, Wazdan;
- live-casino от Evolution и Ezugi;
- board games (poker, roulette, blackjack);
- sports betting and eSports.
In 2024, IAUI recorded an increase in online gambling of 17% and more than 150,000 active players in the country.
Land-based casinos
There are dozens of licensed casinos and slot machine halls in Latvia, especially in Riga, Jurmala and Daugavpils.
Largest casinos:- Olympic Voodoo Casino (Riga) - OEG flagship;
- Royal Casino Spa & Resort is the largest entertainment complex;
- Fenikss Casino, SL Casino Riga, Landmark Casino, Casino 777.
Casinos are aimed at both local players and tourists from Scandinavia, Estonia and Lithuania.
Payment methods
Players can use both traditional and digital payment methods:- Visa, MasterCard, Maestro;
- SEPA and bank transfers (Swedbank, Citadele, Luminor, SEB);
- Skrill, Neteller, Revolut;
- Apple Pay, Google Pay;
- cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, USDT) - only on platforms with AML certification.
All transactions go through controlled processors connected to the IAUI.
Responsible play
Latvia has one of the most advanced Responsible Gaming systems in the EU.
Since 2020, the national register of self-excluded players (Pašatteikušos personu reš istrs) has been operating.
Main principles:- voluntary self-exclusion for a period of 1 to 12 months;
- mandatory communication of addiction risks;
- deposit and playing time limits;
- restriction of advertising in the daytime and evening;
- blocking accounts when a dependency is suspected.
IAUI, together with the Ministry of Health, runs programs for the prevention of gambling addiction and maintains a hotline.
Economic importance
Gambling is an important element of the Latvian economy.
According to the Ministry of Finance (2024):- total industry revenue - €400 million;
- tax revenues - about €100 million;
- more than 3,000 direct jobs;
- active investments in sports and culture (Optibet is a sponsor of the Latvian Hockey League, OlyBet is an NBA partner in the Baltic States).
Challenges and challenges
The main challenges of the Latvian gambling market:- the rise of offshore unlicensed sites;
- the need to adapt to new crypto payments;
- regulation of advertising in social networks;
- tightening AML policies.
In 2025, IAUI plans to introduce a new centralized system for monitoring online transactions and expand the list of international certification partners.
Development prospects
Latvia continues to fully digitalize the gambling sector.
Key plans 2025-2026:- introduction of licenses for crypto and blockchain casinos;
- integration with the pan-European Responsible Gaming system;
- updating taxation taking into account the growth of online income;
- support for esport projects and live gambling.
Due to its well-thought-out regulation, technological maturity and stable economy, Latvia is one of the ten most reliable and transparent gambling markets in Europe, and its online casinos are recognized as one of the safest for players.
