In this article, the expert of our portal-Milan Rabszski-will tell you why we need to pay attention to Latvian casinos, as well as about this:
- how gambling developed in Latvia;
- how is it regulated and what are the licenses in the country;
- what online games and bonuses are available for South African players;
- how to register on a gambling site and how to make your first deposit of $5.
Development and history of gambling in Latvia
Latvia is a country with an almost non-existent gambling history, but it is also one of the few countries where gambling is completely legal. When Latvia was united with the Soviet Union, gambling was not very popular among Latvians. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 was somewhat shaken by the advent of gambling. However, since there was no government licensing body at the time, many of these institutions operated in the "grey" market.
August 21, 1991 Latvia declared independence, and almost immediately in the hotel of the same name opened the first Latvian Casino "Riga". Since 2016, online casinos have also been legalized. This applies only to sites that are registered in Lithuania and have an official license to gamble in the country.
Regulation of gambling in Latvia
Gambling activities in Latvia are controlled by the Latvian gambling and lottery Inspectorate (Izložu un Azartspēļu uzraudzības Inspekcija). Local authorities issue a permit for the opening of gambling establishments, which are then considered by the inspectorate.
Gambling is regulated by three main rules:
- Gambling and Lotteries law;
- Law on Lotteries and Gambling tax and fee;
- Law on Lotteries of Goods and Services.
The gambling and Lotteries Act was passed in 2006. It defines the basic terms and conditions of the games, as well as the issuance of licenses. Online gambling can take place only in certain places: casinos, gambling halls, bingo halls, on the territory of lottery or sports bookmakers. Land-based casinos in Riga must offer at least 10 tables to play. Casino outside the capital-a minimum of five tables. In addition, the gambling hall must accommodate at least 20 slot machines. Online machines must be connected to a network so that their operation can be monitored.
Players can participate in gambling only after reaching the age of 18. According to Latvian law, all gambling winnings over 3,000 euros (14,300 SAN) are subject to a 23% tax rate. Players who earn more than 50,000 euros (238,000 SAN) in a tax year on gambling will be taxed at a rate of 31.4%.
Latvian license for foreign casinos
To obtain a license in Latvia, a casino operator must have a joint-stock company registered in that country. The bank account of the online casino must have at least 1 400 000 euros for a quick withdrawal of winnings. All licenses are issued by the Latvian Inspectorate for supervision of gambling and lottery. The license is issued within 90 days from the date of application for an indefinite period, but must be reviewed annually by the Inspectorate.
Gambling in Latvia in numbers
65%
players spend on the game no more than 10 euros per month;
20%
players win around 10 euros every month;
11%
respondents believe that they are addicted to gambling;
20
slot machines (at least) must have a gambling hall;
23%
tax must be paid for winnings over 3000 EUR;
29,15007582 BTC (about 570 000 EUR)
the player won the slot machine in three minutes.
Casino bonus codes for Poles in Latvia
For many years the country was under the rule of the Soviet Union, where gambling was strictly prohibited. Thus, there was no possibility for Latvians to create their own unique casino and random games. The good news is that legal gambling casinos offer their customers only the best games from the most popular gambling software manufacturers. In this way, players use a variety of casino games, as well as place sports bets on football, basketball, tennis and other sporting events.
Slot machines in Latvian casinos
All types of well-known gambling are allowed on the territory of the country, however, online slot machines are the most sought after. In casinos in Latvia, more than 80% of players choose them. Here is the ranking of the most popular slot machines with jackpots:
- Egg-Xtravaganza;
- Zombie Town;
- Wild Invasion;
- Doctor Reactive Mega;
- Legions of Luxury.
Card and table games: the best offers online and live
The Latvian online casino does not skimp on table games and offers many varieties of online blackjack, online roulette, poker and Baccarat. Moreover, many Latvian gambling brands also have live games. This way you can enjoy your games via HD streams with professional dealers from all over the world. Live games offer the real atmosphere of a land-based casino.
Some of the more popular table games with live croupiers are:
- Immersive Roulette;
- Blackjack Party;
- Football Studio;
- Deal or No Deal.
Lotto, scratch cards and bingo for Poles
The National Lottery of Latvia (Latvijas Loto) is a state monopoly, but is run by a private company. Loterea also offers many types of entertainment such as Keno, Superbingo, scratch cards and Viking Lotto.
The online lottery is also legal. Latvian players can buy lottery tickets on websites. This is not popular, because only 11% of participants in online clubs run lotteries. Players from Latvia can also participate in lottery draws abroad, as tourists visiting other countries or online, using the so-called"lottery shopping services".
Betting in Latvian casinos
Sports betting and bookmakers are legal in Latvia. Totalizator Sport is not available in the country, while there are 11 licensed bookmakers. The most popular sport that can be bet on in Latvia is ice hockey. The players also like football.
Online bookmakers are also legal and must apply for a license, just like land-based bookmakers. For zes$a year Latvia received 19.4 million euros only for sports betting. Here is a list of the most popular betting sites, legal in Latvia:
- LVbet,
- N1 bet,
- SynotTip,
- 11.lv,
- Olybeth.
The process of registration in the best casinos in Latvia
Registration in an online casino in Latvia is no different from registration in South Africa. All you have to do is choose the best gambling site and find the "sign up"button. In the form you need to enter all your personal data – name, surname, date of birth, address of residence, as well as contact details – e-mail and phone number. We advise you not to start the game without verification. Immediately after registration, you should verify your profile. This will help to avoid problems in the account and quickly withdraw real money. To do this, send your ID to the virtual casino customer service.
No deposit bonus offers per registration or per deposit
In any Latvian online casino beginners can count on a huge number of bonuses. The biggest advantage of competition between gambling sites is that players have more advantages. Therefore, South African players will receive all kinds of bonuses in Latvian online casinos. The most popular types of bonuses in Latvian online casinos are:
- welcome bonus for new players;
- Reload bonus;
- free spins;
- no first deposit;
- start bonus with no deposit.
How to make payments in a Latvian online casino?
After Latvia's accession to the European Union, the state abandoned the Latvian lats, so all transactions are carried out in euros. Thanks to this, players of most European countries can top up the player's balance without overpaying and commissions. On the other hand, african players can deposit in $spins, and even play for SAN, which will be automatically converted into euros. You can also open a bank account in Latvia in euros. To do this, you need an identity card and a residence permit in the country.
So, to start playing for real money and find out if you can win, you should choose platforms that allow you to deposit or withdraw prizes using popular in the country electronic payment services.
| Payment method in Latvia | Examples of methods | How to use casino on line |
|---|---|---|
| Payment card | Visa, Mastercard (LatCard) | Depositing funds by credit card is the most common method in Latvia. It is used both to make the first deposit and to receive winnings. Transactions are usually executed within 1-5 days, and the minimum deposit starts from 10 euros. |
| Bank transfer | SEB, Swedbank, Luminor, Revolut, Nordea, Sepa, Wise, Swan |
Bank Transfer is still a popular method as almost every player has a bank account. The main disadvantage is the processing time, which usually takes 1-5 working days, and the payment process itself is quite complicated. Unfortunately, South African players can not use Blik, Przelewy24 and MINT in Latvia, which offers every online casino in South Africa. |
| Electronic wallets | PayPal, Skrill, Trustly, WebMoney, PayrNet, Monese, MuchBetter | Electronic wallets are the preferred payment method for an increasing number of players. Deposits and withdrawals are made immediately. Wallets offer a low deposit – from 5 euros. |
| Mobile payment | Mobiamo, Google Pay | This is the easiest option because you just need to use your smartphone and send an SMS or press one button to top up your account. |
| Prepaid Card | Paysafecard | It is an easy and secure way to make online payments without a credit card or bank account. Just buy a Paysafecard worth 10, 25, 50, 75 or 100 euros. |
In the summer of 2019, a Latvian player was browsing cryptocurrency slot machines and decided to play the panda Panda slot from Habanero. The player bet 0.030 mBTC, and in three minutes he got six pandas, which brought him a win of 29.15007582 BTC, which corresponds to about 570,000 euros.
Gambling addiction in Latvia
Last year, gambling addiction plunged about 70 thousand Latvians. That is why in the country offline and online casinos adhere to the rules for the Prevention of gambling addiction, developed at the international level. According to art. 4 of the law "on gambling and lotteries", the player has the right at any time to revive the application for entry in the" Register of excluded persons " (Pašatteikušos personu reģistrs). The minimum period of the ban is 12 months.
There is also a psychological assistance service of the Inspectorate in african, which will help to find a way out of the most difficult situations:
- phone numbers: +371 27 528 705, +371 67 504 966;
- e-mail address: [email protected].
- the current anonymous support group meets at Stabu Iela 18, Riga, LV-1011, Latvija.
Remember that gambling can lead to addiction. For support, contact your loved ones. Ask for professional help. Don't try to deal with your problem alone.
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Curiosities:
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More than 2/3 of the population of Latvia between the ages of 18 and 74, she never gambled.
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Casinos and slot machines it is mainly visited by working men aged 25 to 34 years.
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Participation Of Latvians online casino players have grown by 11% in five years.
Summary: the benefits of gambling in Latvia
The gambling industry in Latvia is developing very successfully. For this small country, casino revenues are quite significant. Latvian players prefer slot machines. Revenues from them in 2021 amounted to about 90 million euros or 83% of the total income of the gambling industry. Sports betting is in second place (19.4 million euros), and card games – in third (1.7 million euros). We expect that in the near future these amounts will only grow.
