The Quintessential Guide to Latvian Online Casinos 2024
For over 30 years now, the gambling market in Latvia has prospered since the easing of restrictions in place during Soviet Union times. This is noticeable from the number of land-based casinos to an ever-growing list of Latvian online casinos. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about online gambling in Latvia.
The Best Latvian Online Casinos
- Latvian casino players accepted
- 50+ Unibet Exclusives inc. branded live roulette
- Cash prizes awarded every day
- 100s of games for Latvian players
- Live casino with 50+ real-money games
- PlatinClub with four levels of benefits
- Award-winning casino for Latvian players
- Bonus wins always paid in cash
- Wagering requirements eliminated from bonuses
- Latvian players welcome
- 4000 Slots & progressives available
- Lots of promotions inc. cashback & weekly cash spins
- 3000+ Slots & table games for Latvians
- 10+ Deposit options inc. bitcoin
- Earn Yonicoins and claim benefits all year
- Award-winning online casino accepting Latvian customers
- Big-money slots leaderboard contests
- Weekly free bet club available
Latvia’s Gambling Background
The legalisation of gambling in Latvia closely follows the country’s recent history. Gambling and casinos were banned while Latvia was a communist state. However, the laws were slowly relaxed following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The first land-based casino appeared in the early 1990s. However, it wasn’t until the mid-2000s that Latvian online casinos were legalised.
Gambling Today in Latvia
Latvia is now a thriving member of the European Union and has a burgeoning online gambling industry. You can visit Latvian casino sites that are licensed by the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Authority and play slots, roulette, and live dealer games.
Is Gambling Legal in Latvia?
Latvia has a growing land-based casino industry, and many Latvian online casinos are licensed here. Under the Gambling and Lotteries Act of 2005, the following are legal:
- Online casinos
- Lotteries
- Land-based casinos
- Bingo
- Mobile casinos
- Sports betting
- Poker
Where to Gamble in Latvia
Latvia enjoys a liberal gambling landscape that includes both land-based and online games. You can play at a Latvian online casino as long as it holds the correct licence.
Separate licences are awarded for brick-and-mortar casinos. In addition, the Latvian gaming law covers bingo halls and a national lottery.
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Land-Based Casinos
You can legally play real-money slots and table games at Latvia’s land-based casinos. Under the current law, casinos in Riga must have at least 10 gaming tables and 20 slot machines. Smaller casinos outside the capital are allowed to operate with just five tables.
Riga has around half a dozen brick-and-mortar casinos, such as the Europa Club Casino in the centre of the city which offers slot machines and live table games like roulette, blackjack and Texas Hold’em.
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Online Casinos
Latvian online casinos were legalised in 2005. According to the law, any top online casino Latvia has to offer must be licensed in order to operate. In fact, there are two types of gaming licences available: one covering both land-based and online gambling, and one for Latvian online casinos and betting only.
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Mobile Casinos
It’s perfectly legal in Latvia to play casino games from your smartphone or tablet thanks to the best mobile casinos in Latvia. You can either download and install native mobile apps for your Apple or Android device or simply open the casino site from your mobile browser.
In fact, at a mobile casino, Latvian gamblers can enjoy slots and table games that are specifically designed and optimised to work on smaller devices.
What to Look Out for When Gambling in Latvia
Ready to get started at a top Latvian online casino? Don’t sign up until you read our helpful checklist.
Taxes
Taxes on gambling in Latvia can be strict. As well as taxes for gambling companies and casinos themselves, there are also taxes on winnings, especially for VIP gamblers. Under the current legislation, you’ll have to pay tax on winnings over €3,000 during a full year. Tax rates range from around 23% – 31%, depending on how much you win.
Licensing & Regulation
(Source: iaui.gov.lv)
As mentioned previously, every Latvian online casino must be properly licensed in order to operate. Licences are awarded by the Latvian Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection (IAUI), who are responsible for:
- Regulating land-based casinos in Riga and across Latvia
- Maintaining a registry of land-based casino visitors
- Regulating Latvia’s national lotteries and bingo halls
- Overseeing gambling duty and taxes
Age Restrictions
Under Latvian online casino law, you must be aged 18 or over to open an account and play for real money. An increase in the minimum age for gambling to 21 was recommended in 2021. However, that rule has yet to take effect.
Games Favoured at Latvian Online Casinos
You can choose from a range of exciting games at every good online casino, with the option to play for free or bet at stakes to suit your own budget, using euros as the currency of your choice.
Online Slots in Latvia
Licensed casinos offer a full suite of online slots, including the best free slots in Latvia with which you can practise until you get used to how the game works.
Many of the world’s top online slots providers, such as iSoftBet and NetEnt, are available in the country too. You can choose from hundreds of classic titles or give the latest bonus slots a spin. There are also progressive slots that offer huge jackpots.
Table Games
Every online casino in Latvia offers a good selection of table games. In fact, the quality and choice of games is vast, and greatly varies from casino to casino.
In most cases, however, you will be able to play classic casino games such as blackjack and roulette, which you can play for free or real money.
Video Poker
Video poker games are readily available at every top Latvian online casino. In a game of video poker, you must make the best five-card hand possible after a bet and redraw in order to win.
Live Casino
You can play traditional table games like roulette and blackjack against a real-life dealer at the best live casinos. This is made possible thanks to livestreaming technology which you'll be able to access through your desktop or mobile device.
In fact, some of the leading live casino studios operate right out of Latvia. Playtech opened the world’s biggest live casino studio in Riga back in 2017, equipped with state-of-the-art webcams and a huge dealer training centre. Major live casino operators such as Ezugi and Euro Live Technologies also have headquarters in the country.
Casino Promotions for Latvian Players
Every online casino for Latvian players runs some sort of promotion. It’s important to note that the best casino bonuses usually have strings attached.
That is, it’s safe to say that you will most likely have to meet the wagering requirements before unlocking any winnings and bonus funds.
A welcome bonus is a special promotion reserved for new players, and usually includes a deposit match bonus.
This means that the casino will award bonus funds equal to your first deposit. However, you'll need to fulfil the wagering terms and conditions before you can unlock those funds, along with any winnings. In addition, you’ll also have to be resident in Latvia and over 18 years of age in order to claim this type of bonus.
Some welcome bonuses also include a free spins deal to use on a selected slot game. Again, you’ll need to meet the wagering conditions before withdrawing any winnings.
Our list of online casinos in Latvia includes gambling sites that offer a no deposit bonus. As you've probably guessed from the name, this type of promotion doesn't require you to make a deposit in order for it to be claimed. However, you will usually have to complete a wagering requirement before you can unlock any winnings.
A good online casino will normally run some kind of loyalty scheme, through which you earn loyalty points every time you play casino games and bet real money.
Here’s the best part – you’re then free to exchange loyalty points for cash or other perks later on.
You should be mindful of wagering requirements when you claim most bonuses at online casinos in Latvia. Every casino promotion includes some strict terms and conditions which you must meet before you'll be able to withdraw your winnings to your account.
Popular Latvian Banking Methods
You can make deposits at a online casino through a range of easy banking methods. In addition, top gambling sites will accept EUR deposits as standard.
Most Latvian casinos accept both Visa and Mastercard, with some also allowing online banking transfers via local services such as Paysera.
Digital e-wallets are great for funding your online casino account, with major providers such as PayPal and NETELLER accepting Latvian customers too. All you need is a valid email address, along with a username and secure password, in order to register with one of these services.
Some online casinos accept payments via prepaid cards and vouchers, such as the well-known and widely used paysafecard. To make a deposit, simply enter the card's code number on the casino cashier page.
The best cryptocurrency casinos let you move money in and out of your account with no fees or banks involved. The top Latvian online casinos now accept transfers in Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin, and some also provide provably fair games which have been verified on the blockchain.
Latvian Online Casinos – Summary
The best Latvian online casino sites in 2024 offer a choice of excellent slots and table games for real money. You can even play against a live dealer based in a Riga studio!
Whether you’re looking for a mobile casino for Latvian players or a solid online casino licensed by the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Authority, we have you covered with our list of the best at the beginning of this article. Simply pick your favourite and join the fun!
And while you're at it, don't forget to check out our carefully compiled list of the top online casino sites for 2024!
Best Online Casinos Latvia FAQs
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Of course! You can download a Latvian online casino app for your Apple or Android smartphone if the operator has made one available. Don't forget to claim your welcome bonus when you sign up!
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Latvian online casinos must be properly licensed by an approved gaming authority or by the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Authority. Games will be safe, and payouts verified.
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You may have to pay taxes on gambling winnings if you exceed a certain amount. We advise that you keep records of your yearly wins and losses in case you need to present them to the authorities.
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Absolutely. Welcome bonuses, for example, often include free spins and a deposit match bonus. All good Latvian online casinos also run loyalty schemes (VIP programmes) for their customers.
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Yes! The best Latvian casino sites are SSL-encrypted and regulated by the relevant authorities to protect vulnerable players.
Iggy Fenech
