Latvia Advances Gambling Reform Package

Latvia’s Budget and Finance Committee has backed a long-awaited package of gambling reforms in principle, paving the way for the proposals to be considered at their first parliamentary reading. The measures include raising the minimum gambling age to 21 and strengthening requirements for monitoring players.

The committee endorsed the amendments on October 21, more than two years after the government-backed bill was referred to on September 26, 2024. However, no date has been set for the rules to take effect. The current committee plans to leave the remaining work to the next parliament, which will decide which provisions advance through further readings.

Proposed Restrictions Cover Online and Land-Based Gambling

The proposed package would introduce changes affecting both gambling operators and customers.

Under the amendments, the minimum legal gambling age would increase from 18 to 21. Under-18s would also be prohibited from buying lottery tickets at retail outlets. Gambling venues would be required to suspend operations between 6am and 9am.

Online gambling would be restricted to a maximum of 21 hours within any 24-hour period, regardless of whether a player gambles continuously or across multiple sessions.

The proposals would also expand visitor-registration requirements and extend video-recording retention periods from seven days to at least 30 days. In addition, the minimum number of gaming machines required in each gaming hall would rise to between 20 and 25.

Industry Warns of Venue Closures and Revenue Losses

Latvia’s licensed gambling association has raised concerns about the proposed gaming-machine thresholds. It estimates that the requirement could force around 30 venues to close, put 240 jobs at risk and reduce annual gambling tax revenue by approximately €4.46 million.

The association has called for changes to the proposals, arguing that gambling behaviour and market conditions have shifted considerably since the legislative process began in 2019.

Industry representatives have also argued that more targeted player monitoring could provide a more proportionate response than restrictions that apply broadly to operators and customers.

Final Rules Remain Uncertain

The amendments have not yet become law and will require further parliamentary approval before they can take effect.

With the package now awaiting the incoming parliament, the final direction of Latvia’s gambling framework remains undecided. The 15th Saeima will determine whether the proposals continue through the legislative process, undergo significant changes or are abandoned.