Riga Mayor Vilnis Kirsis is seeking a decision to create special zones in the capital where gambling establishments can operate. Local lawmakers are seeking legal support for their “spatial plan,” which would prohibit the construction and operation of gambling establishments in municipal buildings, district centers, or cultural zones.
In addition, the council will propose banning all forms of gambling within a radius of 300-500 meters from public areas such as schools, public transport stops, and residential areas.
In 2019, the Duma amended the rules for gambling establishments operating in Riga, which led to numerous legal disputes with Alfors, Olympic Entertainment, Joker Ltd, and Admiral Klubs.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, the council began the process of closing 139 gambling establishments operating in the Riga region by 2025. However, a group of domestic gambling companies filed an appeal to the Constitutional Court of Latvia, arguing that the Council acted without proper consent, despite the fact that business permits had already been issued.
If the regulation had been implemented, gambling in Riga would have been limited exclusively to the premises of four- and five-star hotels.
According to Mayor Ķirsis, the new mandatory rules will be adopted in March. However, the decision on the closure of specific gambling halls will most likely be made at the next council meeting.
Olympic Entertainment Latvia Chairman Juris Celmārs said that the government should intervene in the matter and find a solution. He noted that a complete ban on gambling establishments in Riga would drive the industry into the shadow economy – unregulated, illegal gambling halls that would not generate any tax revenue.
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