Latvia is a Baltic country located in Northern Europe. Despite being rather small, Latvia has great potential when it comes to the gambling industry.
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Gambling Industry in Latvia
The country’s main regulatory body is the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection, and it legalised casino gaming, poker, bingo, and betting. The only form that’s not still legalised in its online format is fantasy betting. Moreover, Latvia offers several lottery games to its residents.
Gambling in Latvia was legalised in 1998, and since then, the country’s legislators have been actively working on the legal framework, which eventually resulted in the legalisation of online gambling. Before 1998, gambling was partially legal, as the first official casino opened its doors in 1991.
If you want to learn more about gambling licenses in Latvia, please read our guide carefully.
Types of Latvia Gaming Licenses
There aren’t specific types of gambling licenses in Latvia. In other words, the country has a one-fits-all license, but there are still a couple of things that you need to take into account when obtaining a Latvian gaming license.
Gambling Law Advantages
Latvia has legalised basically all forms of gambling, including online gambling, which means you are free to offer casino games, poker, and sports betting in the country if you obtain the license. Latvian lawmakers made a detailed legal framework, meaning gambling in the Baltic country is well-regulated.
Still, the process of actually obtaining a license isn’t that easy. The good news is that our team of experts can help you with that and take care of the technical aspect so that you can focus on the business side. That way, we can speed up the entire process of obtaining a gambling license in Latvia.
Key Requirements to Get a License
Everyone who has a capital company registered in Latvia or is a foreign shareholder whose capital doesn’t exceed 49% could apply for a Latvian gambling license. This doesn’t apply to the investors from EEA or EU countries.
To obtain a Latvian gambling license, you need to provide all the necessary paperwork and be eligible for receiving the permit. In other words, you should meet some of the following conditions:
- You are not be declared incapacitated in accordance with the law-prescribed procedures.
- You are not a criminal offender or a suspect.
- Your criminal proceedings for an intentional criminal offence are not terminated on a non-rehabilitative basis.
These rules mainly apply to the casino manager, and the Inspection reserves the right to deny you a license if you fail to meet the criteria above.
License Cost and Taxes
To receive a gambling license for the first time, you need to pay €427,000. However, if you’re going to offer only online gambling services (gambling via electronic communication services), the price is €200,000.
Re-registering your license costs €37,000. However, if you have any land-based venues in the country, you’ll be charged an additional fee:
- €30,000 for casinos;
- €4,500 for bingo halls or gaming halls;
- €2,000 for every place where betting is offered as a service.
The Inspection charges annual fees for individual tables and machines annually at the following rate:
- €28,080 for every roulette table;
- €28,080 for every table in casinos that offers cards and dice games;
- €5,172 for every slot machine.
The gambling tax is applied as follows:
- 15% of the proceeds of the game for phone gambling, betting, and wagering;
- 10% from organising bingo games;
For gambling conducted via means of telecommunication (in plain English — on the internet), the tax is always 10% of the income.
Application Procedure
To apply for the license, you need to provide adequate paperwork for the Inspection. This includes:
- A copy from the land registry that shows the premises intended for your gambling facility (if you’re going to open a land-based gambling business).
- A floor plan for your casino, gambling hall, or bingo hall, with all details specified.
- A development plan for the coming year that includes details about the gambling operations, number of gambling tables, machines, employees, and the expected revenue and expenditure.
- A municipal permit that allows you to start a casino, gambling hall, or bingo hall in that municipality.
- Essential information on the manager of the gambling property, including their first and last name, personal identification number, and more.
- A statement that certifies that the gambling property layout complies with all the regulatory requirements.
Maintenance
Make sure to renew your license once a year and pay attention to all taxes, especially for land-based gambling. If you’re only going to run an online casino, you’ll have to pay 10% on taxes + license renewal fees.
If you’re uncertain how to apply and receive a Latvian gambling license, feel free to reach out at cs@softgamings.com, and our team of professionals will assist you with the entire process.
