Latvian gambling regulator disbanded
The duties of Latvia’s Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection will be absorbed by the State Revenue Service.
Latvia.- The oversight of gambling in Latvia will be consolidated under a single agency. The independed Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection (IAUI) has been disbanded, with the State Revenue Service taking on the agency’s regulatory duties in addition to its existing role overseeing taxation.
The Ministry of Finance says this restructuring of gambling regulation in Latvia is intended to create a more streamlined approach while reducing costs and bureaucracy. It noted that online gambling is becoming the dominant segment and believes the regulatory reforms will reduce friction and create a more modern framework.
The State Revenue Service, which is the national tax agency, has established a dedicated division to manage licensing and compliance. Another division will conduct inspections, both remote and on-site, to ensure technical and financial control.
The move comes as neighbouring countries in the Baltics also change their approaches to gambling. A phased reduction in gambling tax in Estonia has begun this year, reducing the previous 6 per cent rate to 5.5 per cent. The rate will continue to drop by 0.5 points a year until reaching just 4 per cent in 2029. While the move has been controversial, some lawmakers sustain that the measure will turn the country into an igaming hub like Malta.
Meanwhile, lawmakers have proposed the introduction of a mandatory player card for gambling in Lithuania. Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas argues that the measure would allow a comprehensive view of the market and player behaviour.
