Is Online Gambling Legal in Latvia?

The short answer to this question is yes, as gambling in Latvia is completely legal and has been regulated by the national government in 1988.

The first brick-and-mortar casino in Latvia was subsequently opened three years later, whilst the Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection of 1998 strived to regulate the market and laid the foundations for the emergence of iGaming nationwide.

Currently, both off and online gambling in Latvia is governed by the 2005 Gambling and Lotteries Law, whilst the governmental Legal Department (consisting of the Licensing Division and the Financial Analysis Division) oversees the national licensing procedure.

This is important, as although iGaming is legal in Latvia this only applies in instances where the operator is licensed to operate nationally. 

To this end, the government has banned unlicensed online gambling websites and currently uses ISPs’ to block these platforms from being accessed to nationals.

How do we Review the Top Online Casinos in Latvia?

This means that players in Latvia can access a host of casino platforms from across the globe, so long as they’ve been granted a license by the Legal Department.

But how do we go about reviewing the casinos that we feature on our site? Here are some of the key criteria:

Safety and Security

Safety and security are two of our key considerations when appraising online casino sites, and all of the platforms on our list boast at least 128-bit SSL encryption and protect the integrity of your financial transactions.

Welcome Bonuses

If you’re a regular online gambler, you’ll know that the world’s market-leading operators compete by offering generous welcome offers. So, we’ve reviewed each Latvian casino to see precisely what you can expect as a new player!

Deposit Methods

With so many multinational operators active in Latvia, you can access a wide range of deposit options. We’ve listed which payment methods are available with each casino, so you can choose a platform that suits the way in which you choose to bank.

Fast Payout

On a similar note, Latvian players can also access a large range of withdrawal methods in the current market. Most of these offer fast and, in some cases, instantaneous payouts, so you won’t be made to wait before banking your winnings.

Mobile Capabilities

Across the globe, virtual gamblers are increasingly looking to wager through their smartphone or tablet. To meet this need, most of our operators offer either instant play platforms or native apps on Android and iOS, and we’ve reviewed each of these in careful detail.

Customer Support

This is one of the most important metrics by which all online casinos are judged, with the best operators offering 24-hour support across various channels including telephone, email and live chat. Each of our casinos has been reviewed to see which one offers the best levels of support.

Established Game Providers

As most Latvian casinos are multinational in their nature; they work with some of the world’s leading software houses. These include NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Playtech and Microgaming, along with some of the most exciting, up-and-coming developers.

Licensing and Regulations

On a final note, we ensure that each of our casinos is fully licensed to operate in Latvia (and all other relevant jurisdictions). Remember, you can only play at casinos that are licensed to operate in Latvia, or run the risk of falling foul of the law.

Playing with Real Money – What Currencies can you wager with at Latvia’ Online Casinos

Historically, the Latvian Lat was the national currency, but this changed when the country entered the European Union in May, 2004.

Nowadays, the Euro is used as the primary currency in Latvia, and this means that the nation’s gamblers can wager freely in one of the most popular and commonplace currencies in the iGaming space.

Popular Latvian casinos like Betsafe and Unibet all accept Euros as a primary payment method, negating the need to undertake costly and often inconvenient currency transfers.

These casino platforms also enable you to wager using a host of renowned and convenient payment methods. These include:

• Maestro
• MasterCard
• PayPal
• Paysafe Card
• Solo
• Switch
• Visa
• Visa Electron
• Skrill
• Entropay

Which Casino Games are Available in Latvia?

With market-leading casino platforms such as Betsafe active in Latvia, it’s little wonder that players can access a rich diversity of games.

We’ll break this down in further detail below, whilst asking which verticals are the most popular at Latvian casino platforms.

• Slots: Let’s start with the basics, as slot games account for nearly two-thirds of the online GGY in Latvia. Make no mistake; you can access a wide range of slot titles in this jurisdiction, including iconic games such as Book of Dead, Starburst and high-variance alternatives such as Mega Fortune Dreams.

• Table Games: Latvian players can also access a wide array of table games, including classic and contemporary iterations of blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Blackjack Multihand is a particularly popular title, whilst there are various table limits available across numerous games.

• Poker and Casual Games: Online gamblers in Latvia can also enjoy multiple card games, including classic titles like Casino Hold ‘em and Caribbean Stud. Other widely available games include Three Card Poker and2 Hand Casino Hold ‘em, each of which boast a cult following of players.

• Live Casino: Live casino platforms have become all the rage of late, with developers like Evolution Gaming driving this vertical. There’s a rising number of unique and engaging real-time games available too, including Lightening Dice, Free Bet Blackjack and Deal or No Deal.

Popular Casinos Accepting Latvian Players

OK, we hear you ask, but what popular casino brands are currently operating in Latvia? 

Below, we’ve listed three of the most popular operators on our Gambling Metropolis, along with an insight into why they’re so popular!

• Betsafe: Betsafe is one of the biggest and most famous casino brands in the world and one that’s only restricted in a handful of countries. It certainly boasts a huge audience in Latvia, whilst the platform’s huge range of games and outstanding levels of customer service help to set it apart from its rivals.
• Unibet: Next up is another well-known casino platform and one that works with several of the world’s leading software houses. New players can also access a welcome offer that’s worth 200% up to the value of £200, along with 200 free spins on selected NetEnt slots.
• 22Bet Casino: Whilst the 22Bet casino brand may not be the most famous in the world, it offers access to a huge range of payment options and software houses. You can also bank a 100% deposit match up to the value of £300 when you register now, with a minimum deposit of just £1 too (which is ideal for casuals and low-rollers!).

Playing Online Casino Games with a Real Live Dealer in Latvia

Regardless of which online casino you frequent in Latvia, the chances are that you’ll find one with an exceptional live platform.

After all, casino brands like Betsafe work diligently with developers like Evolution Gaming, who are an awarding winning software house that specialises in the creation of real-time games.

These games not only enable you to interact with immersive and 3D dealers, but they also allow you to do battle with rival players in pursuit of potentially large cash jackpots.

These live platforms offer various iterations of casino classics like blackjack, roulette, poker and baccarat, whilst you can rest assured that the pace and presentation of these games is incredibly authentic.

Casino Bonuses and Free Spins

When comparing the casinos listed on our website, you’ll most likely pay careful attention to the best casino bonuses on offer and no deposit bonuses on Latvia online casinos.

These promotions are usually structured in the form of so-called deposit matches, which may be worth between 100% and 200% of the amount initially credited to your account. They’re also governed by minimum and maximum thresholds, as this helps operators to control the terms of the offer and mitigate their risk.

Most contemporary offers also strive to incentivise players with a fixed amount of free spins, which can usually be deployed across one or a select number of slots depending on the precise terms of the bonus. There is also the no deposit bonus offered to new and existing players

Make no mistake; this has become a key component of successful welcome offers in the modern age, particularly as slots now account for an estimated two-thirds of the GGY in the global iGaming space.

What’s a Bonus Wagering Requirement?

They say that the best things in life are free, but this wisdom cannot be applied to casino welcome bonuses. After all, the vast majority have stringent wagering requirements attached to them, which dictate the ease with which you can withdraw winnings from your account.

These requirements will vary from one casino provider to another, although on average they’ll sit between 20 and 50-times the total value of the bonus.

To put this into context, let’s say that you open an account with £10 and leverage a 100% deposit match to receive a cumulative bonus of £20. When applying Betsafe’s wagering requirements of 50-times the bonus, this means that you’ll need to wager £1,000 before you can withdraw any winnings from your account.

Fortunately, we’ll list the wagering requirements associated with each of our casinos, so you can compare these in great detail before making an informed decision.

The Casino Market in Latvia

Just like a number of other Eastern European markets, Latvia’s iGaming space has experienced exponential growth during the last 18 months.

As we’ve already touched on, the total GGY for the Latvian gaming industry peaked at €154.5 million during the first half of 2024, representing year-on-year growth of 14.7% overall. 

According to the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection (IAUI) group, all gambling verticals experienced growth whilst total profits also climbed by 15.2% to €111.5 million.

Whilst offline gambling machines continue to account for the vast majority of this income, there’s no doubt that the iGaming space represents the fast-growing niche in Latvia.

In total, the income generated from virtual and interactive gambling saw an unprecedented 38.8% hike, rising from €18.2 million to €25.4 million during the aforementioned six-month period. 

Online casino gameplay saw the most significant growth during this time, with revenues soaring by 40.1% and peaking at a total €18.1 million. As for virtual sports betting, this increased by 35.3% at the beginning of 2024, rising to €17.1 million nationwide.

Online Casinos Gambling Rules and Regulations in Latvia

The issue of regulatory compliance has become a hot topic in Latvia of late, with IAUI making concerted efforts to keep natives away from internationally licensed sites. 

This has led to the addition of 51 new domains to the nation’s growing blacklist, whilst banks have also been prohibited from processing payments between punters and sites that aren’t formally approved to operate in Latvia.

This represents an ongoing drive to create a lucrative and well-regulated marketplace, whilst these efforts can be traced back to the formation of the ground-breaking Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection body back in 1998. 

This regulatory body also passed the 2005 Gambling and Lotteries Law, which continues to govern iGaming in Latvia and implement the core guidelines that all licensed operators and players must adhere to.

At the same time, a collaboration between the nation’s Licensing Decision and Financial Analysis Division continues to oversee iGaming licensing in Latvia, ensuring that the correct processes are followed diligently and at all times by applicants.