Latvia’s Budget and Finance Committee introduces its long-delayed gambling reform package for first parliamentary reading. The proposals will raise the minimum gambling age to 21 and introduce stricter player-monitoring requirements.
The committee endorsed the amendments in principle on October 21, more than two years after the government-backed bill was referred to it on September 26, 2024. No implementation date has been set, and the current committee intends to leave the remaining work to the next parliament. The next Saeima will determine which provisions proceed through subsequent readings.
Proposed rules tightening online and land-based gambling
The package includes several measures affecting gambling operators and players. It will raise the legal from 18 to 21 and prohibit under-18s from purchasing retail lottery tickets. The operation sin gambling venues will be required to pause operations between 6am and 9am.
Online gambling would be limited to 21 hours within any 24-hour period, whether played in one session or several. The visitor-registration will be expanded and increased video-recording retention from seven days to at least 30 days. In gaming halls the minimum number of the machines in hall will be increased be 20-25.
Latvia’s licensed gambling association also warns that increasing the minimum number of gaming machines per hall could force approximately 30 venues to close, put 240 jobs at risk and reduce annual gambling tax revenue by around €4.46 million. The association has called for revisions, arguing that gambling behaviour and the market have changed considerably since the legislative process began in 2019.
The provisions are not legal yet unless the legislation is passed and takes effect.
Industry representatives argue that targeted monitoring would offer a more proportionate approach than broad restrictions affecting all players and operators.
With the bill now moving toward the incoming parliament, the final shape of Latvia’s gambling framework remains uncertain. The 15th Saeima will determine whether the proposed safeguards advance, undergo substantial revisions or are dropped altogether.