The Seimas of Lithuania voted on January 14 for the implementation of new gambling controls to be applied via national banks.
A new set of gambling controls has been proposed to the Seimas, which includes new checks and duties to be carried out by all banks (foreign and domestic) licensed by the Bank of Lithuania.
The new controls will require Lithuanian banks to monitor all gambling transactions and provide direct reports to the LPT, the Gambling Control Authority of Lithuania.
Banks must comply with the new duties to ensure that payments to illegal gambling websites registered on the Gambling Control Authority’s blacklist are blocked.
Payments to illegal operators must be terminated within 24 hours of receiving a directive, with fines ranging from €1,800 to €3,800 for initial violations and up to €6,000 for repeat offences.
The LPT supports applying direct controls on banks as the best measure to monitor black market activities, having already banned 1,600 websites from Lithuania’s markets.
A growing concern, the Seimas has reviewed new controls to combat illegal online gambling, which accounted for approximately 15% (€18m) of Lithuania’s gambling market in 2021.
Lithuania’s Treasury believes that illegal gambling has cost the government a liability of €2m in uncollected taxes.
From 1 July 2025, Lithuania will increase its legal gambling age from 18 to 21, approved as a new amendment to the Gambling Law. The age restriction will apply to all gambling activities (land-based and online), except for national lottery draws.
In 2024, the Seimas approved a bloc of amendments to impose ‘centralised controls’ on gambling venues and online operators.
Gambling venues must employ a trained staff member, qualified by the LPT, to monitor and intervene in cases of ‘irresponsible gambling behaviour’. The staff member will have the authority to suspend a customer’s gambling for 48 hours if necessary.
Further developments see Lithuania’s gambling sector awaiting the decision of the Ministry of Finance on imposing a new tax framework on gambling income in 2025, which will increase the tax rate on slots, casino games, and online gambling to 22%.
Lithuania’s proposed changes have been submitted to the European Commission (EC) for review of competition rules.
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