Key points:
- Rīga city council aims to restrict gambling operations to a few designated areas, potentially including the airport
- Industry representatives warn of the risk of illegal gambling expansion and legal disputes
- Previous efforts to ban gambling in Rīga have largely exempted upscale casinos, instead targeting smaller venues
The Rīga city council is preparing comprehensive new regulations that would restrict gambling locations across the Latvian capital.
While not a total ban, the proposed rules would limit gambling venues to only a few designated areas.
Under the plan, gambling will be prohibited in municipal properties, neighbourhood centres, cultural heritage sites and designated protection zones.
Additionally, restrictions will apply to areas within 300 meters of educational institutions, public transport stops and residential buildings – as well as within 500 meters of railway stations, bus stations, airports and passenger ports.
These restrictions would effectively confine legal gambling operations to small, specific areas – likely including the airport.
Mayor Vilnis Ķirsis emphasised that the goal is to make Rīga as gambling-free as possible.
Good to know: The city council is expected to adopt the regulations in March, with specific decisions on individual gambling hall closures to follow in subsequent meetings
However, industry representatives warn that such restrictions could drive gambling underground.
Juris Celmārs, Chairman of the Board of Olympic Casino Latvia, cautioned that prohibiting a legal and regulated industry could lead to the rise of illegal gambling establishments, which would operate without oversight and fail to generate tax revenue.
The Latvian Interactive Gambling Association (LIAB) has also raised concerns, arguing that any restrictions must be proportionate and legally sound. Failure to do so, they claim, could lead to lengthy legal battles, potentially forcing the city to compensate the industry for losses and legal expenses.
Similar proposals have surfaced in the past, with Rīga officials previously declaring an intent to ban gambling more than five years ago.
However, past restrictions largely targeted smaller gambling halls, while high-end casinos catering to wealthy patrons remained unaffected.
