Published: 02.09.2020.

The Ministry of Finance is the leading public administration authority, forming:

  • lotteries and gambling policy;
  • policy on organization of lotteries of goods and services.

The purpose of the policy on organization lotteries, gambling and lotteries of goods and services is to protect the rights of the society interests and the rights of players, by promoting fair competition and operating a responsible game.

 

Organization of Gambling 

It shall be permitted to organize the following types of gambling in Latvia - gaming machine games, roulette (cylindrical game), card games, dice games; wagers, betting, bingo and games of chance via the telephone.

Premises for operating gambling are casinos, gambling halls, bingo halls and the premises of betting or wagering shops.

 

Organization of Interactive Gambling 

It shall be permitted to organize interactive gambling in Latvia - gaming machine games, roulettes (cylindrical games), card games, dice games, bingo, betting, wagers and games of chance via the telephone, as well as it shall be permitted to accept bets for participation in betting or wagering.

The operator of gambling in Latvia shall be a capital company registered in Latvia, with a share capital of at least 14, 300 euros.

 

Organization of Lotteries 

It shall be permitted to organize in Latvia money and goods lotteries, numerical lotteries, instant lotteries, state lotteries, local lotteries and single local lotteries.

State lotteries and interactive lotteries shall be organize by a capital company whose capital is wholly State-owned and whose stocks are not subject to alienation or privatisation, – the State owned stock company Latvijas Loto.

Local lotteries shall be organize by capital companies registered in the Enterprise Register of the Republic of Latvia, with a share capital of at least 14, 300 euros.

Associations, trade unions and religious organisations shall be entitled to organize only single local lotteries, if these lotteries are held as public events or due to a public gathering for musical performances, shows of artistic value or sports events.

 

Organization of Interactive Lotteries 

It shall be permitted to organize interactive lotteries in Latvia. The organization of interactive lotteries (money, goods, numerical and instant lotteries) shall mean the organization of such lotteries on a nationwide scale in which the participants use only electronic communication services to complete all the activities required for participation in such lotteries and the lottery prizes are established by a special programme.

In Latvia, the State owned stock company Latvijas Loto shall be permitted to organize interactive lotteries, the location of operation of interactive lotteries shall be the website of Latvijas Loto.

 

Provision of a Gambling Service

The provider of a gambling service shall be a merchant, who creates, maintains the above mentioned service in the territory of the Republic of Latvia or provides it from the territory of the Republic of Latvia, i.e. the creation, maintaining, provision of access to or online broadcasting of the content necessary for operating gambling, except for the case, where the provision of a gambling service constitutes a certain part of the gambling operated by the gambling operator licenced in Latvia.

 

Lottery of Goods and Services

Lottery of goods is a game where participants participate by purchasing goods but without paying a participation fee, and perform the activities prescribed by the rules of the lottery.

Lottery of services is a game where participants participate by entering into service agreement but without paying a participation fee, and perform the activities prescribed by the rules of the lottery.

In Latvia, a lottery operator may be both a merchant who manufactures goods, distributes, sells or provides services, and a person to whom the above mentioned merchant has delegated the rights to operate the lottery.

 

Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection

For organization of gambling, organization of interactive gambling, organization of lotteries, organization of interactive lotteries and provision of gambling services, it shall be necessary to receive a corresponding licence in the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection.

In order to organize a lottery of goods or services, a merchant who manufactures goods, distributes, sells or provides services, or a lottery operator shall receive a lottery permit in the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection.

In Latvia, control and supervision of the observance of the legal framework is implemented by the authority under subordination of the Ministry of Finance - Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory  Inspection.

Developers of a legal framework - Tax Administration and Society Interests Policy Department

 

Legal acts in the field of policy on organization of lotteries, gambling and lotteries of goods and services

1. Law On Gambling and Lotteries

2. Law On Lotteries of Goods and Services