Te proposed bills were introduced with the aim of reducing the negative effect gambling has on public health. Ten in July 2021 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Gambling and Lotteries Policy Guidelines 2021-2027, which could see several changes over the next few years such as increasing the minimum number of slots in gambling halls and limiting locations where gambling venues can be operated.


LIAB which is suggesting it is expanded to offer players the opportunity to exclude themselves for lesser time periods than the minimum 12 months. LIAB says the self exclusion time limit should start at seven days to give the player a ‘cooling off period,’ with three or six month periods also offered.


LIAB is a non-governmental organisation which represents the Latvian online gambling sector to promote a fair market for all licensed gambling companies. Members are Alfor (Novomatic group), Betsafe, Olybet, Optibet, PAFbet, and ViensViens.


P184 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS


Jānis Trēger added: “In general the self- exclusion register is the most effective tool for preventing problem gambling. Latvia has taken a big step towards a safe and more responsible gambling environment by introducing this register two years ago. LIAB members have always supported the full implementation of the register.


“Great work has been done to create a register that is very easy to access. But that person will not always be ready to make a decision to exclude themselves from the game for ever or a year and the possibility of self-determination for a shorter period of time would make


decision making easier and more efficient.”


In May 2021, a bill was passed which also banned alimony debtors from gambling. Te bill amended the Law on the Maintenance Guarantee Fund and means operators have to ensure they do not permit those who owe child maintenance payments to gamble at landbased or online services. Since May, some 42,000 alimony debtors have been added to the list.


LAND-BASED GAMING


In April last year the Latvian parliament rejected draft amendments to the Law on Gambling and Lotteries which would have limited gambling in the country.


Te amendments were put forward by the New Conservative Party and KPV LV who said some 80,000 people in Latvia suffer from gambling addiction and 15,000 severely.


Tere were several attempts to amend the regulation including a proposal to limit gambling to four and five star hotels (rejected in April 2021) and a proposal to increase the minimum number of gaming machines in slot halls from 20 to 40 and to prohibit gambling in residential buildings and 3km of the surrounding area (rejected in May 2021).


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212  |  Page 213  |  Page 214  |  Page 215  |  Page 216  |  Page 217  |  Page 218