Lithuania’s Supreme Administrative Court has rejected local operator Top Sport’s appeal against a fine imposed by the regulator in 2023 after it violated self-exclusion rules at one of its venues.
The regulator’s €15,000 (£12,540/$16,330) fine was handed to Top Sport last year by the regulator after the case was heard in the Vilnius District Administrative Court. The case was then appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court, which found the watchdog’s decision to be “legal and reasonable”. The court found no basis to the appeal, the regulator said.
Flouting regulations
The operator was found by the watchdog to have flouted several regulations last year.
Firstly, an individual who had self-excluded from gambling was allowed into an outlet. After allowing the self-excluded gambler to gain entry, two Top Sport employees were dismissed.
However, As part of the regulator’s subsequent investigation, it also found the operator had also violated surveillance regulations.
The cameras did not clearly show money changing hands at the cash register after the camera being installed in the wrong place.
Additionally, the recording was not retained for at least 180 days or until the end of the regulator’s probe, as regulation requires.
Top Sport was ordered to ensure both its staff and patrons are visible to the security cameras, as well as any monetary transactions that take place.
Regulatory sanctions aplenty
Top Sport found itself in hot water with the regulator on several occasions in 2023. At one point, the operator was handed three separate fines in the space of a week relating to various offences.
In once case it allowed underage individuals to enter one of its slot outlets. For this, Top Sport was ordered to pay a €25,000 fine. The following day, Top Sport was fined a further €15,000 after breaching mobile betting regulations.
The third fine of €15,000 related to a lack of compliance regarding payments and depositing into an online account.
Market leader
Top Sport is widely considered to be the market leader in Lithuania’s growing gambling market.
Gambling revenue in the country increased 12.6% year-on-year to €116m in the first half of 2024. The rise was primarily due to a strong online performance that mitigated a decline in land-based revenue.
