Lithuanian authorities seek solutions to tackle unlicensed online gambling
Representatives from various state bodies have pledged cooperation to speed up enforcement action against blackmarket gambling sites.
Lithuania.- Representatives from various authorities have met to discuss how to tackle unlicensed online gambling in Lithuania. The meeting brought together the National Cybersecurity Centre, the Gambling Supervisory Authority, the Consumer Rights Protection Service, the Department of Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control, the Bank of Lithuania. They were jointed by external analysts from Debunk.org.
Officials warned that unlicensed gambling sites were proliferating faster than authorities’ current response can handle. They suggested that greater coordination is needed to find faster ways to shut unlicensed domains.
The Gambling Supervisory Authority said it had become Lithuania’s third most active institution when it comes to website domain blocks, having blacklisted nearly 2,000 gambling websites. However, it said that new domains spring up with increasing frequency, replacing those that are blocked.
Under the current rules, the regulator can only order internet service providers to block domains after receiving a court order. It can now also instruct financial institutions to stop payments linked to a blacklisted operator. A new rule came into effect on May 1 restricting card payments to gambling operators on the regulator’s white list of licensed operators.
However, the regulator argued that a more automated approach is needed. It also wants to find ways to allow faster data sharing along with clearer regulatory frameworks. The government said it will continue to promote joint work across institutions to explore ways to disrupt unlicensed operators.
The issue may be becoming more pronounced since Lithuania’s ban on gambling advertising came into effect on July 1, reducing licensed operators’ options for channeling customers to regulated offerings.
