Lithuanian gambling business
Lithuania is a Baltic state in northern Europe, where almost all modern types of gaming are allowed. Citizens have the right to enter land casinos from the age of 21, and online casinos from the age of 18. The final legalization of gambling in the Republic of Lithuania took place in 2001. Sports betting, slot machines and bingo are especially popular in Lithuania.
Land casinos are widely developed in Lithuania. There are more than 60 institutions operating in the territory of the republic. Most of them are owned by the largest Lithuanian operator Casino Olympic. Despite strict legal restrictions in the field of online casinos, sites of this format operate successfully in the territory of the Republic and are available to the majority of Lithuanian users.
Lithuanian gambling legislation
Gambling in Lithuania is regulated by a toy control body under the Ministry of Finance, headed by Virginius Daukis. After the Republic declared sovereignty in 1990, gambling was legalized, but four years later the ban on such activities came into force again. In 2001, the situation changed. A law was passed that allowed gambling to go underground. The following types of gambling are allowed in Lithuania: lotteries; Table and card casino games; Slot machines; Bets and raffles; Bingo.
The process of legalizing gambling was long and difficult. This initiative was actively opposed by the Catholic Church, which has a strong influence in Lithuania. Proponents of legalization even cited the fact that gambling fans went to gambling in neighboring states, which did not reduce the potential harm from gambling addiction and, at the same time, the country was losing large revenues. In addition, the ban on gambling has had a negative impact on the Lithuanian tourism industry. Thus, in 2000, the bill was approved again and entered into force in the middle of the following year.
Licensing of gambling business in Lithuania
The following types of games are licensed in Lithuania:
The license is issued by the committee with the consent of the local government. It is not allowed to organize this type of activity by convicts or persons observed in connection with criminal gangs. Gambling advertising is banned in Lithuania. Play facilities may not be located in residential buildings, in the immediate vicinity of health and educational facilities.
Only labeled and licensed devices are allowed when organizing games. The founders are prohibited from organizing other activities. You can only participate in gambling from the age of 18. The income tax received from the activities of gambling establishments is 15% and the tax is once a quarter.
Online casinos
In 2016, a law came into force in Lithuania, which tightened the procedure for regulating the activities of online casinos. The authorized capital of the company must be at least $ 1,800,000. While drafting the bill, the Lithuanian government adopted a similar law from Belgium, which has almost identical provisions.
Following an amendment to the Gambling Act, a blacklist of Internet resources has been created that includes sites whose activities do not meet the new requirements. Prohibited resources include popular international services such as Unibet, William Hill and Betway.
Popular casinos and games
One of the largest gaming services in Lithuania is OlyBet from the Olympic Casino. It is the first licensed operator in the country to have the widest network of land facilities. The facility offers the following gaming entertainment:
The online service of Olympic Casino is available not only to Lithuanian consumers, but also to players from other countries of the world. The casino has a good reputation, provides all the necessary guarantees to the players and has the highest traffic among Lithuanian services. In addition, the following online casinos are popular in Lithuania:
In other EU countries, interest in betting in Lithuania is growing. Betting is especially popular among Lithuanian players, especially in basketball, as this sport is considered national by the population of the Republic.
Software creators
There are currently no gaming software companies in Lithuania. Nevertheless, there are representatives of such manufacturers as MrSlotty and Tom Horn Gaming in the Republic. The games of the following companies are popular in Lithuania:
The European Commission has strongly criticized the restrictions on the activities of online casino operators in Lithuania. This allows us to anticipate further changes in legislation, which will make the working environment of European operators more favorable and loyal. Similar precedents have already been set in Sweden and other EU member states. With regard to the requirements for free access to legal services of EU companies, the authorities of these countries were forced to ease the previously established requirements.
An analysis of the online gambling business in Lithuania compared to other EU countries shows that this segment of the entertainment industry is still in its infancy. The current legal framework has drawn a lot of criticism from both players and international regulators.
On the one hand, the gambler has the opportunity to provide access to interesting resources, since he is not responsible for gambling on foreign sites. On the other hand, the experience of other European countries shows that the laws will soon change in the direction of democratization in relation to foreign operators. As for the land establishments, their work is very well organized and can meet the requirements of all categories of players.