Online casinos accepting players from Lithuania
Located on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, Lithuania is one of the three Baltic States alongside Estonia and Latvia. Also referred to as the Republic of Lithuania, online gambling is legal and people can make bets with local operators. On top of that, a large number of offshore operators accept players from this region, so the selection of casinos to choose from is more than decent.
A detail worth pointing out is that the country is doing a lot to maintain a responsible gambling environment and protect its players, with a special accent on advertising. Any gambling-related marketing is strictly prohibited.
Laws, Regulations, and Taxes
When it comes to online gambling in Lithuania, in May 2015, the country sent a notice to the European Commission (EC) of its draft regulation of interactive gambling. A month later, a couple of amendments were made, clarifying that this activity may be organized and operated only by companies that hold a license from the Gaming Control Authority. Seven months later, in January 2016, Lithuania officially welcomed online gambling.
The requirement regarding agreements that require operators to hold land-based licenses or have partnerships with land-based operators to be able to operate locally changed in October 2021. That’s when the Parliament gave its final approval to a bill which aims to allow online-only gambling licenses starting 2022.
Regarding other forms of gambling, licensed operators are permitted to offer land-based casino, sports betting, and pari-mutuel wagering products. Key legislation the local iGaming industry relies upon is Gambling Law No. IX-325, while the regulatory body in charge is the Gaming Control Authority.
As for the taxes, the following rates are applied:
- 5% of turnover for lottery
- 18% GGR for land-based bingo and betting
- 13% GGR for online gaming
- A fixed fee of €2.3k per device per month for land-based table games
- Category A machines have a fixed fee of €260 per month, while the monthly fee for Category B machines is €130
Top 8 Casinos for Lithuania
Player Protection and Responsible Gambling Measures
Although online gambling in Lithuania was officially regulated in 2016, the first measures regarding player protection were issued in August 2010. Following the Vilnius regional court decision, ISPs were ordered to block unlicensed offshore sites.
As soon as the country’s online gambling legislation became effective, the Gambling Supervision Service began taking legal action against online operators illegally providing gambling to locals. Starting January 1, 2016, the Service was given the power to block any payment suspected to be in connection with illegal gambling. In addition to this, the same institution was granted the right to publically blacklist and block any site offering such services.
A year and a half later, in June 2018, the Ministry of Finance suggested an amendment to the Gambling Law No. IX-325. The idea was to enforce tighter restrictions on gambling advertising on betting websites, gaming machines, and casino tables. These proposals came into force in November 2019.
In February 2020, the Government passed legislation to include mandatory warnings about gambling-related harm on all gambling advertisements from July 1, 2020.
Continuing to enhance the player protection sector, the Gambling Supervision Service presented new KYC guidelines for gambling and lottery suppliers shortly after the introduction of the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. A particular emphasis was put on customers considered politically vulnerable, or residents of high-risk third countries as determined by the EC.
In April 2021, a statement came from the Gaming Control Authority confirming that all online gambling operators targeting the market without a license would be blacklisted and subject to ISP blocking. A month later, Parliament greenlighted legislation to ban the promotion of all gambling in the country. The ban took effect on July 1, 2021, encompassing advertisements, promotions, and bonuses from both land-based and online operators.
What’s even more, in July 2022, the Gaming Control Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gambling and Lotteries Regulation Commission of Ukraine to cooperate in the field of supervision of gambling and lotteries. As a result of the partnership, the two institutions will be able to deepen their knowledge in the field of business supervision and regulatory practices and enforcement of legislation, continuing to perfect their respective regulatory frameworks.
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Payment Methods and Banking
Until January 2015, when EUR was accepted, Lithuanian litas (LTL) was the official currency of the country. Therefore, players looking for online casinos for Lithuanians should focus on those which offer EUR, but there’s more.
What comes as quite an interesting detail is that Lithuania is one of the few member states of the European Union in which legal financial transactions with cryptocurrency are possible. Therefore, players can also look for crypto-friendly casinos which offer Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and other popular payment options.
Regarding the available methods, cards, e-wallets, crypto payments, vouchers, and bank-transfers are at players’ disposal for deposits and withdrawals. People will mostly choose methods that are processed fast and incur no fees.
What Should Players from Lithuania Pay Attention to When Selecting a Casino?
Choosing a casino may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be, if you follow a couple of directions. To find out which online casino fits you the best, do the following:
- Look for the license and certificates to ensure that the operator is accredited by a regulatory body
- Check out banking policy, max and min deposit and cashout amounts, potential fees, processing times, and ID verification requirements
- See what’s the selection of games and bonuses like (don’t forget wagering requirements)
- Look for available customer support channels- it’s good to know there’s someone who can assist you in case a problem emerges
- Read the Terms and Conditions to see if everything is well explained and inspect them carefully for predatory and unfair rules
Have fun and gamble responsibly!
FAQ
1. Is it legal to gamble online in Lithuania?
Yes, starting January 1, 2016, people in Lithuania are officially permitted to gamble on the Internet. Residents can make bets with local operators or visit some of the licensed foreign online casinos offering games to Lithuanians.
2. Is demo play available in Lithuania-friendly online casinos?
In most cases, players can have a couple of spins “on the house” before switching to real-money play. Sometimes, they need to register to be able to access demo mode, but some operators permit this even to visitors.
3. What kind of online casino bonuses can Lithuanian players claim?
Just like in other countries, welcome bonuses and free spins are the two most popular incentives. Other than this, there are cashback bonuses, bonus cash, reload deals, themed promotions, tournaments, Loyalty Programs, and other interesting campaigns.
4. Can players from Lithuania gamble on mobile devices?
Yes, mobile gambling is popular among Lithuanian players. While out and about, they can access their favorite games or claim bonuses on their smartphones and tablets.
5. What are the most popular casino games in Lithuania?
Lithuanian players like to play slot games but are also huge fans of table games. Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, Poker, and Baccarat are some of the most commonly played genres in this region.
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