Latvia gambling law
Ilze Rannot

Latvia

Introduction

Latvia permits online gambling through a national licensing system overseen by the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection. Licensed operators must comply with restrictions on advertising, age verification, and responsible gambling measures.

Players in Latvia are only allowed to use licensed local platforms. Foreign websites without a Latvian license are blocked by ISPs. Despite these regulations, online gambling remains popular, and enforcement is gradually becoming stricter.

The legal framework in Latvia includes both land-based and online gambling, though operators are required to follow strict compliance rules. The licensing process is overseen by the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection (IAUI), which ensures player protection and market transparency.

The government maintains a public blacklist of unlicensed gambling websites, which ISPs are obligated to block. All payment providers are also instructed to deny transactions to those operators, making enforcement technologically reinforced.

In addition, Latvia has invested in responsible gambling initiatives, requiring all licensed operators to display information on self-exclusion and support services. This makes the country one of the more progressive regulatory models in the Baltic region, even as debates continue about taxation and cross-border offerings.

Despite a relatively small population, Latvia’s online gambling market continues to grow. International interest remains strong, especially from EU-based companies seeking to enter the region with localized offers and branding.

Ilze Rannot Ilze Rannot

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