Latvia Proposes Raising Minimum Gambling Age to 21
Latvia.- 23 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Latvia is moving forward with plans to reform its gambling legislation, introducing tighter restrictions aimed at strengthening player protection and increasing compliance requirements for licensed operators.
On 21 October 2026, the Budget and Finance Committee of the Latvian Parliament (Saeima) endorsed proposed amendments to the Gambling and Lotteries Law.
The measures include raising the minimum gambling age, restricting the operating hours of land-based venues and introducing enhanced monitoring mechanisms for online gambling.
The proposals have not yet received final parliamentary approval and will require further consideration by the incoming parliament.
Minimum Gambling Age Could Rise from 18 to 21
One of the most significant proposed changes is to raise the minimum gambling age from 18 to 21.
The restriction would also apply to the purchase of retail lottery tickets.
The measure is intended to reduce young adults’ exposure to gambling-related risks and strengthen preventive safeguards.
The proposals would also extend visitor identification and registration requirements beyond casinos.
New Restrictions for Online Gambling
The legislative package includes stronger monitoring requirements for digital gambling platforms.
Key proposals include:
- A maximum of 21 hours of online gambling within any 24-hour period.
- Monitoring players’ combined activity across licensed operators.
- A centralised identity verification system.
- Personalised smartcards or equivalent player identification technology.
- Improved mechanisms for identifying potential gambling-related harm.
The objective is to introduce common monitoring standards capable of tracking player behaviour across multiple licensed platforms.
Additional Rules for Casinos and Gaming Halls
The reforms would also introduce new operational requirements for land-based gambling venues.
Gaming halls would be required to close between 6 am and 9 am every day.
Additional proposals include:
- Increasing the minimum number of gaming machines from 20 to 25.
- Introducing consistent requirements for premises’ façades and signage.
- Reducing the external visibility of gambling-related advertising.
- Expanding visitor registration and identification procedures.
These measures would alter the operating conditions for licensed gambling establishments.
Background: Regulatory Restructuring and Higher Taxes
The proposed restrictions follow a major restructuring of Latvia’s gambling regulatory framework.
In April 2026, the Lottery and Gambling Supervision Inspectorate was incorporated into the State Revenue Service (SRS), which assumed responsibility for licensing, compliance and enforcement.
The restructuring was accompanied by gambling tax increases scheduled for 2026:
- Online gambling: from 12% to 15%.
- Betting and wagering: from 15% to 18%.
- Gaming machines: from €6,204 to €7,440 annually.
- Roulette, card and dice tables: from €33,696 to €40,440 annually.
The Government presented these changes as part of a wider effort to improve regulatory oversight and strengthen public revenues.
Industry Concerns and Next Steps
The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed concerns about several aspects of the proposed legislation.
While supporting individualised gambling risk monitoring, the organisation opposes the increased minimum machine requirement, online time restrictions and additional data obligations.
Industry representatives have warned that excessively restrictive regulations could encourage consumers to migrate towards illegal gambling platforms.
Meanwhile, Aiva Vīksna, Chair of the parliamentary committee, acknowledged that the proposals require further updating to reflect current market conditions.
The final decision will rest with Latvia’s 15th Saeima, elected on 3 October 2026.
No implementation date has yet been confirmed for the proposed restrictions.
Impact on the Gambling Industry
The reform represents another development in Europe’s increasingly restrictive approach to gambling regulation and consumer protection.
For iGaming operators, the measures could introduce higher compliance costs, additional player verification systems and further restrictions on online activity.
The parliamentary debate will determine how Latvia balances consumer protection, the competitiveness of its regulated gambling market and the prevention of illegal gambling.
Editó: @fonta
