THE GAMBLING MARKET When Estonia was part of the USSR, all types of
gambling activities were banned even though illegal casinos still operated despite the prohibition. However, the real history of gambling in Estonia began once the country was released from Soviet rule in the early 1990s. Te country was so eager to bring foreign investment into the country it dished out licences like confetti.
In 1994, the government took a regulatory approach and enacted the Lottery Act and a year later the Gambling Act. Tis saw four types of gambling introduced – games of chance, games of skill, totalisators and betting. Te gambling market boomed and there were 90 plus casinos and gaming halls in Tallinn alone by 2008 and more than 170 casinos and gaming halls in total across the country.
In 2009, the new Gambling Act 2008 was introduced providing a tighter legal framework to help curb underage gambling and included regulations for online gaming.
At the time, only Estonian companies could operate online gaming, but the market was
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opened up further in 2011 and permitted foreign operators in a bid to boost revenues. Tese companies must obtain an Estonian gaming licence to operate.
Te issue of activity licences and operating permits falls under the Maksu-Ja Tolliamet (Estonian Tax and Customs Board – EMTA).
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Today, the Estonian gambling sectors are governed by the Gambling Act 2008, the Gambling Tax Act plus the State Fees Act and General Law on Economic Activities Act and Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act.
Te Gambling Act of 2008 includes the following:
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Types of gambling permitted are games of chance (gaming tables, slots etc); lotteries (classical and instant); Totos; games of skill; remote gambling (introduced in 2011); commercial lottery and tournament games of chance.
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Licences are not required for - skill games where the win is to re-enter the game;
lotteries with a prize pool of less than €1,000 and commercial lotteries.
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Operators of games of chance can be organised by a Public Limited Company or Private Limited Company with a share capital of at least €1m.
Operators of games of skill can be operated by a public or private limited company with share capital of at least €25,000.
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Toto operators must be public or private limited companies with share capital of at least €130,000.
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An Operating Permit is issued for the opening of a gaming location to operate games of chance, Toto, games of skill, organising remote gambling or organising a lottery. Tese are issued for five years (lottery and remote gambling) or 20 years (games of skill locations) and five to 20 years (games of chance and Toto locations).
Players must be over 21 years of age, whilst over 18s can play the Toto. Lottery is restricted to over 16 years of age.
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