Latvia is considering stricter gambling regulations after the Saeima’s Budget and Finance Committee supported amendments to the Gambling and Lotteries Law on October 21.
The proposals would raise the minimum gambling age from 18 to 21, introduce mandatory morning closures for gaming venues and restrict how long customers can gamble online.
The committee recommended advancing the legislation to its first parliamentary reading. However, the incoming 15th Saeima, which takes office on November 3, must decide whether to continue the process.
The proposals remain subject to revision, with no implementation date confirmed. Lawmakers have acknowledged that parts of the bill, originally submitted in 2024, require updating to reflect changes in the gambling industry.
Proposed Rules Target Gambling Hours and Player Safety
One of the principal changes would increase the legal gambling age to 21 for land-based and online activities. Lottery participation would remain permitted from age 18.
Gaming establishments would also have to close between 6am and 9am, although betting and totalisator services would be exempt.
Online operators would face a limit preventing customers from gambling for more than 21 hours within any 24-hour period, including time accumulated across separate sessions.
The proposals also introduce a common player verification system.
Customers would use personalised smartcards or equivalent technology to access certain gambling services, allowing operators to track playing time and financial activity.
The system would support the identification of potentially harmful behaviour and enable restrictions when monitoring indicates increased addiction risks.
Online gambling businesses would also have to submit real-time information to a central supervisory system.
Additional measures include extending visitor registration requirements beyond casinos and increasing the required retention period for security camera recordings from seven to 30 days.
As reported by SBC News, the minimum number of slot machines in gaming halls would rise from 20 to 25, while uniform rules would govern premises’ exterior appearance and signage.
Industry Groups Warn of Financial Consequences
Latvia’s gambling industry has raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposed restrictions.
The licensed gambling association estimates that increasing the minimum number of machines per gaming hall could result in approximately 30 of the country’s 162 establishments closing.
According to the association, the change could affect 240 jobs and reduce annual gambling tax revenue by €4.46 million.
Industry representatives also argue that additional restrictions may encourage players to use unlicensed offshore websites.
The association estimates that Latvia’s illegal online gambling market generates around €62 million, compared with approximately €170 million in revenue from licensed operators.
The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry supports individual risk-monitoring measures but opposes the proposed online playing-time cap and additional data obligations.
Committee chair Aiva Vīksna acknowledged that several provisions need reconsideration because the legislation no longer fully reflects current market conditions.
The bill was originally approved by the Cabinet in August 2024 and submitted to parliament the following month.
Some of its proposed commencement dates have already passed, while subsequent regulatory restructuring has changed the authority responsible for gambling supervision.
New Parliament Faces Updated Regulatory Framework
Latvia reorganised gambling oversight in April 2026 by transferring the responsibilities of the Lottery and Gambling Supervision Inspectorate to the State Revenue Service (SRS).
The restructuring combined gambling regulation with tax administration, with separate departments handling licensing and compliance, as well as inspections.
The Finance Ministry introduced the changes to reduce overlapping responsibilities and improve oversight as online gambling continues to account for a larger share of the industry.
The country has also increased gambling duties.
Interactive gambling tax rose from 12% to 15%, while betting and wagering duty increased from 15% to 18%.
Annual slot machine duties climbed from €6,204 to €7,440, with taxes on roulette, card and dice tables increasing from €33,696 to €40,440.
Separately, Latvian courts have considered restrictions on where gambling establishments can operate.
On October 16, the Constitutional Court upheld Daugavpils’s prohibition on gaming halls within 150 metres of apartment buildings and schools.
The decision followed an earlier ruling concerning Riga, where the court found that broader restrictions had lacked sufficient justification.
The proposed national reforms now await consideration by the incoming parliament.
Bill No. 705/Lp14 had not received its first reading as of October 22, leaving lawmakers to determine whether the existing package should proceed and what amendments may be necessary.