The Lithuanian gambling industry saw substantial growth in the first half of 2026, marking a 16.8% increase from the same period in 2025, according to data released by Lithuania’s Gambling Supervision Authority (LPT) on Thursday.
The surge is primarily attributed to the rise in remote gambling, which accounted for around 78% of the total gross gaming revenue (GGR). In the first six months of 2026, GGR reached €153.6 million, up from €131.5 million in the first half of the previous year.
Remote operators generated approximately €119.9 million in GGR during this period, reflecting a significant 25% increase year-on-year. In contrast, traditional brick-and-mortar establishments reported a decline, with GGR amounting to €33.7 million, a drop of 5% compared to the prior year.
The lottery segment also experienced growth, with ticket turnover rising by 8.6% to €87.73 million. Prize payouts increased by 10.5%, reaching €49.29 million, resulting in a lottery GGR of €38.44 million, up 6.2% from H1 2025. Two private companies operated the primary lotteries as of June 30, 2026.
Tax revenue from the gambling sector grew by 11.4%, totaling €46.43 million, of which €30.67 million was from casinos and gambling organizers, while lottery operators contributed €15.76 million to the state budget. By mid-2026, 12 closed joint-stock companies held licenses to conduct gambling activities in Lithuania.
Performance within the remote gambling sector varied by product type. Remote Category A slot machines were the top revenue generators, reporting €85.7 million in GGR, a 33% increase from the prior year. Remote table games also showed strong performance, with GGR increasing by 34% to €12.3 million. However, remote Category B slot machines faced a sharp decline, with revenue dropping 63% to €424,800. The physical table games segment remained relatively stable, yielding €7.7 million in GGR.
The total number of gambling devices and venues saw a slight contraction compared to the first half of 2025. Earlier this year, Lithuania’s Ministry of Finance proposed implementing mandatory “player cards” to oversee gamblers’ activities across both online and offline venues. Set to be enacted on January 1, 2029, this initiative will require every gambler to possess a physical card to enhance control over gambling behavior and allow government authorities to track deposits and winnings across different operators.
