Latvia's Budget and Finance Committee has reintroduced its long-awaited gambling reform package for its initial parliamentary reading. Key changes in the proposals include raising the minimum gambling age from 18 to 21 and implementing stricter monitoring requirements for players.
The committee approved these amendments in principle on October 21, more than two years after the government-endorsed legislation was originally referred to them on September 26, 2024. No implementation date has been established yet, and the committee plans to pass the remaining work to the next parliament, known as the Saeima, which will decide which parts of the reform will advance to further readings.
Changes outlined in the reform will significantly impact both online and land-based gambling operations. Raising the legal gambling age to 21 will prevent those under 18 from purchasing retail lottery tickets. Additionally, gambling venues will be required to suspend operations between 6 AM and 9 AM.
Online gambling will also face limitations, restricted to 21 hours of play within any 24-hour period, whether in a single session or multiple ones. Other proposed changes include expanding visitor registration and extending the video recording retention period from the current seven days to at least 30 days. Moreover, the minimum number of gaming machines in a hall will be elevated to between 20 and 25.
However, Latvia's licensed gambling association has raised concerns that increasing the minimum number of gaming machines could lead to the closure of roughly 30 venues and put 240 jobs at risk. This change may also result in a decline in annual gambling tax revenue by approximately €4.46 million. The association has urged for re-evaluation, pointing out that gambling behaviors and market conditions have evolved significantly since the legislation process commenced in 2019.
Currently, the proposed provisions are not yet legal and depend on the legislation's passage and implementation. Industry representatives advocate for a more targeted monitoring strategy rather than broad restrictions that would impact all players and operators uniformly.
The trajectory of Latvia’s gambling regulations remains uncertain as the bill moves forward to the new parliament. The incoming 15th Saeima will ultimately decide whether to approve the proposed measures as is, make substantial changes, or discard them entirely.
