More big brands added to Lithuania’s gambling blacklist

Lithuania’s Gambling Control Authority (GCA) have included another wave of gambling operators to its blacklist of gaming companies, after claiming that the operators were providing online services in the country without the necessary licence.

William Hill, Betway and Unibet are the latest big brand names to be denied access to operating legally in the country after the GCA issued binding orders to internet providers to block the companies’ websites.

Publication of the blacklist comes after the Lithuanian lawmakers announced a host of regulatory amendments concerning gambling.

As of 1 January this year the GCA has been able to take legal action against operators that conduct illegal remote gambling in Lithuania. The country’s new gambling rules require international online operators to establish a local presence.

Currently, only Sport Top, TonyBet and Orakulas have applied for, and been issued with, Lithuanian online gambling licences.

The GCA posted a notice to its website warning local gamblers that patronising unauthorized sites meant they “risk losing their contributions”, and that the GCA wouldn’t aid gamblers should they lose money to a false site.