Baltic states have a positive view towards gambling. As such, gambling in Latvia is completely legal in nearly all forms. Latvian players can enjoy a variety of casino games, sports betting, poker games, bingo, scratch cards, live casinos, and much more.
Have a look at our listings of the best Latvian online casinos. Each operator has our mark of approval as they meet our strict standards of safety and fair play. You can browse through casino sites licensed by the Latvian government, or have a look at a number of foreign online casinos that accept players from Latvia.
18+, Full T&C’s Apply
Your average online casino in Latvia will accommodate you with a great gaming selection. What’s more, you can expect a solid selection of bonuses and promotions, easy to use payment methods, and ‘round the clock customer support.
As you read on, you will learn all about gambling in Latvia, including deposit and withdrawal fees, mobile casinos, our review process, and much more!
Mobile devices have completely invaded our day to day lives. The rise of mobile casinos was only the natural course of things. Today, you will be hard pressed to find a Latvian casino without at least a mobile-optimized website. However, many also offer standalone apps for Android and iOS.
In combination of mobile payment methods such as MuchBetter, ecoPayz and Skrill, there’s never been a better time to be a mobile gamer. Not only can you make instant, seamless deposits and secure withdrawals, but you will have access to virtually limitless mobile games.
Latvia fares well in terms of 4G LTE coverage, as most of the country has access to this fast data connection network. This means that Latvian players can enjoy smooth casino gaming with little to no interruptions because of lag.
There are many popular smartphones among Latvians, and at least 60% of the population owns a device. Samsung, Apple, Huawei and Xiaomi products are especially popular. These companies dish out powerful devices that are more than capable of handling mobile casinos and standalone gaming apps.
The average Latvian casino is almost identical to its desktop counterpart. The gaming selection is a bit limited, but overall you can still expect hundreds of games coming in all shapes and sizes.
If you are looking for the best mobile casino in Latvia, then have a look at our casino listings. You can also check out detailed reviews of each operator for all the details.
Gambling is completely legal in Latvia. This includes both online and offline forms of gambling.
The online gaming market isn’t exactly flourishing as in other European countries. This is because online casinos must be partnered with a land-based operator in order to legally accept Latvian customers. However, there is still a wide choice of Internet gambling sites to Latvian players.
The companies that offer online gambling services are mostly popular land casino operators such as Olympic Casino, Optibet and Latvian Lotto.
To acquire an online casino license in Latvia, operators must have a capital value of at least €1,400,000 and the majority of shareholders must be Latvians. The country’s licensing and regulatory body is the Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection of Latvia.
Gambling licenses have no expiry date, and approval is sent within 90 days if all qualifying criteria are met. The operators are subject to yearly inspections, and must pay annual taxes for running a casino, gambling or bingo hall, and sports betting services.
To make sure you are playing at a legal online casino, check if the domain ends with .lv, and inspect their website to see licensing information.
The country has a long list of blacklisted casinos, which includes almost every operator that does not have a Latvian license. However, playing at foreign sites is still possible and many Latvians do so on a daily basis, whether through VPNs or by playing at non-blacklisted sites.
Nonetheless, we would recommend playing at Latvian-licensed gambling sites because they offer wide gaming selections and a number of products, such as casino, live casino, sports betting and poker.
Latvia was under Soviet rule for the large part of the ‘1900s. There were numerous rebellions and even successful attempts at reclaiming independence, but many of them were short lived. True Latvian independence was reached in 1990, and soon after the gambling market started flourishing in the country.
Up to that point, the Soviet government restricted gambling and it wasn’t popular at all among Latvian citizens. In 1991, the first Latvian land casino was opened. However, as there was no government licensing body at the time, many of these establishments were operating in a grey market.
1994 saw many casino operators leave Latvia as the government tried to squeeze out massive tax revenue. This turned for the better in 1998, when the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection body was formed. This regulatory body was in charge of licensing and regulating all gambling companies in the country.
This paved the way for many new casino brands to enter Latvia and generate excellent tax revenue for the government. This is why in 2006, 2013, 2015 and 2016 – additional amendments to the Law on Lotteries and Gambling were made. Based on these amendments, today Latvia has over 60 land casinos and many similar betting establishments.
As far as online gambling is concerned, it was officially legalized in 2003 and final regulations were completed by 2007. Those who seek to offer gambling services through the Internet must meet certain criteria in order to acquire a license. The most important rule is that operators must be at least 51% owned by Latvians, and have headquarters on Latvian soil.
The current state of the gambling industry in Latvia is in fact better than most countries in the world. For such a small Baltic state, we are impressed that players can legally enjoy online games by top providers such as NetEnt, Microgaming, Big Time Gaming, and so forth.
In our view, the future is even brighter. If the country allows foreign operators to acquire a license by the Latvian government while still keeping their foreign headquarters, we anticipate a significant market boom.
The best games for Latvian casino players are the ones you like the most. The country was under Soviet rulership for many years, where gambling was strictly prohibited. Therefore, Latvians didn’t have the space to develop their own unique games or gambling tastes.
The good news , the spheres of Internet gambling give players limitless options. As such, players enjoy a wide variety of casino games, but also sports betting on football, basketball, tennis, and so forth.
The most popular casino games in Latvia:
If you are new to online gambling, the choices of online casinos may seem overwhelming. That is because they truly are overwhelming. There are dozens of Latvian-licensed online casinos, and hundreds of foreign gambling sites. So, how do you know which one is best for you?
The answer is, you don’t have to. We will do all the hard work, so that you can focus on playing. Our casino reviews go through each aspect of a casino in detailed fashion. There is nothing that escapes our eyes, which is why we only feature trusted and verified brands that will treat you well.
Nonetheless, we will give you a small walkthrough through our review process. Have a look at the most important factors that determine a casino’s quality, and how the average Latvian casino performs in each area.
Latvian casino gamers should have absolutely no concerns when it comes to security. As online casinos are completely legal in the country, and they can obtain a license from the government – these operators cannot risk mistreating players. If they do so, they risk ridiculously high monetary punishments, and removal of their license.
What’s more, popular Latvian casino brands such as Olympic have a long-standing history in the Baltic region. They operate dozens of respected land casinos and have an untarnished reputation in online gaming as well.
If you are playing at a foreign online casino, make sure to look for sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, Curacao eGaming Authority or Malta Gaming Authority. These regulatory boards are the most respected on the market, and they hold casinos to strict standards of fair play and security.
All online casinos that bear a license issued by the government of Latvia will be available in the country’s native language. They can be accessed via .lv domains, have the EUR as a currency, and offer localized customer support.
Playing at foreign websites in English is also possible, and many casinos accept Latvian players and EUR deposits and withdrawals.
Customer support is an essential piece to the online casino puzzle. If players don’t have access to immediate customer service, then things can get complicated. Since the online gaming market is overflowing with competition, operators fight tooth and nail to retain customers.
This is why you can expect live chat customer support as a bare minimum. Telephone support is also available at some operators, but the efficiency of live chat makes phone support redundant. All Latvian online casinos are also obliged to take in player queries via email support.
The Latvian gaming market is pretty closed off, but operators who serve this Baltic state are partnered with leading casino gaming suppliers in the likes of NetEnt, Microgaming and Betsoft.
These providers are known for staying ahead of the curve in the iGaming industry. They offer the best, most innovative games in all categories. You can expect eye-candy, but also excellent winning potential.
You will never have to compromise quality for quantity either. The average online casino in Latvia has hundreds, if not thousands of top-quality games to choose from.
A casino without slots is as good as empty. This is because slots are the most popular game, both offline and online. As such, slot machines often comprise 80%+ of any given casino’s gaming selection.
As a Latvian player, you can browse through hundreds of classic, video and progressive slots. These games come with various unique features, payout mechanics and bonus structures.
Starburst, Thunderstruck II, Blood Suckers, The One Armed Bandit, Vikings Go Wild – these are just a few examples of the most popular online titles.
Slots may be the head honchos of online gaming, but a good set of table games is the cherry on top. Fortunately, Latvian casinos spare no expenses when it comes to table games. You can browse through numerous variants of staples such as Blackjack, Roulette, Poker and Baccarat.
What’s more, many Latvian brands have fully-fledged live casinos. There, you can enjoy live games via HD streams, hosted in professional studios from across the globe. Live casinos take immersion to the next level, and offer an unmatched gaming experience in the online gambling world.
Some of the most popular live dealer tables are Blackjack Party, Immersive Roulette, Deal or No Deal and Football Studio, to name a few.
At any Latvian online casinos, bonuses are to be expected. This is the greatest benefit of competition; more benefits to customers. Therefore, Latvian players will be showered in bonuses of all types.
However, be careful not to consider bonuses as free money. Most promotions have terms of use that must be respected, otherwise you risk forfeiting your bonus cash and any winnings.
Have a look at the most popular bonus types available at Latvian Internet casinos.
Every online casino player is familiar with the welcome bonus – the most valuable promotion type in existence. Casino sites use the welcome bonus as a tool to attract new customers, thus they offer a valuable welcome bonus that will double or triple your bankroll up to a certain maximum amount.
Before claiming a welcome bonus, make sure to read the fine print. Taking a few moments of your time to read the wagering requirements, max cashout restrictions and eligible games can save you lots of headaches down the line.
If you like slots, then you will love free spins bonuses. They are extremely common among online casinos. Operators offer them as part of welcome bonuses, as standalone promos on a weekly basis, or during major holidays throughout the year.
No deposit bonuses are highly sought-after among online casino players. They are rarely found, especially in Latvian-licensed online casinos, but they tend to appear from time to time.
There are no drawbacks to claiming a no deposit bonus. Of course, wagering requirements and other bonus terms must be respected. However, the most important bit of this bonus type is that you are not risking a cent of your own cash. It offers a great way of exploring a new casino and earning some extra cash in the process.
| Rank | Casino | Bonus | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No Bonus Casino | 10% Cashback | 8 |
| 2 | Mummys Gold | $500 | 9.12 |
| 3 | Vegadream | Up to €1650 + 300 Spins | |
| 4 | River Belle | $800 | 9.18 |
| 5 | Spin Palace | $1000 | 8 |
| 6 | Betwinner | €300 1st deposit Bonus / €390 With Bonus Code CASINORANK | 8.91 |
| 7 | Cherry Casino | $500 | 8 |
| 8 | Lucky Niki | $333 | 8 |
| 9 | Play Million | $200 | 8 |
| 10 | Drück Glück | $100 | 8 |
According to Latvian law, all gambling winnings over €3000 are subject to a tax rate of 23%. Players who earn more than €50,000 in gambling winnings over the tax year will be taxed at a rate of 31,4%.
The online casinos that have a license issued by the Latvian Government are free to access for all Latvian players. Customers must pay taxes on all winnings from these casinos.
The penalty for playing at foreign online casinos that are not approved by the government is €350. Players who are caught avoiding taxes will be fined by 23% on all winnings over €3000. This is the same as the standard tax rate.
Since foreign casino sites are technically illegal, the law is not clear whether you should pay taxes on these winnings.
Absolutely. The euro is the currency of choice in all European online casinos. It is also Latvia’s official currency as of 2014. Therefore, you will be free to use your native currency for deposits, withdrawals and wagering.
If you are using different currencies in your payment method and online casino, a currency conversion fee will be applied.
Playing at online casinos licensed and regulated by the government of Latvia is 100% legal and safe.
Casino sites based outside the country and licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, Gibraltar, Curacao or are not bound by any country law. However, they have an excellent reputation among millions of online gamers, and make sure their licensees respect dozens of fair play rules and regulations.
You can have a look at our Latvian casino reviews for more details on licensing.
Yes, you can. Playing for free is possible at nearly all online casinos. Before you open a game, you can select “Play For Fun” or “Real Money”. Playing for free is an excellent way of testing out games; seeing how they behave, the payout rates, and features. You have no time limits on free play, and the games’ RTP is equal as if you were playing for real. Of course, real money can’t be won in fun play.
Bonuses and online casinos go hand in hand, Latvian or otherwise. As a player, you can expect a limitless range of bonuses coming in all shapes and sizes.
The welcome bonus, exclusive to new casino players. It will often double your bankroll. Moreover, free spins promotions on certain slots, cash back bonuses that will return a portion of your lost bet. Latvian online casinos also offer regular deposit match bonuses for loyal players.
Your typical Latvian online casino will not charge any withdrawal fees when requesting a payout. There are rare exceptions, but you can always consult your online casino for more details. Typically, if fees exist, they will be present on Bank Transfer withdrawals.
However, your payment method may charge you a small transaction fee – especially if currency conversion is involved. Generally, the most popular e-wallet such as Neteller, Skrill, PayPal and Paysafecard have no withdrawal fees whatsoever.
It is standard online casino policy to verify a player's identity before they can process their withdrawal. This is a security check to prevent underage gambling, money laundering and other forms of fraud.
Identity verification typically takes 24 hours. In general, casinos will ask you to send out a photographed or scanned copy of your government issued ID or passport. In addition, they will need a proof of address, which comes in the form of a utility bill to your name that is at least 3-6 months fresh.
Assuming you’ve verified your identity, and completed any security checks that are required by the casino, your withdrawals will generally process within 24 hours if using e-wallets.
Through other methods such as debit/credit cards and bank transfer, there is a lot more bureaucracy in the process. As such, you will usually have to wait 3 to 7 business days. Online casinos have no say in this – it is up to the banks to complete the transaction.
Latvian players can take advantage of plenty of payment methods such as prepaid cards, mobile payment processors, e-wallets, debit and credit cards, bank transfers and even cryptocurrency.
We’ll give you an overview of the most common secure payment methods: