Baltics

Court Declares Rīga’s Ban on Gambling Unconstitutional

Published

3 weeks ago

April 9, 2024

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Constitutional Court of Latvia said on April 4 that it had deemed the restriction on the organisation of gambling throughout Rīga unconstitutional, as the municipality has not justified why gambling is prohibited in the specific areas.

The case was brought before the Constitutional Court following applications by the gambling companies Olympic Casino Latvia Ltd, Alfor Ltd and Joker Ltd. They requested an assessment of the compliance of the Rīga spatial plan with Article 105 of the Constitution, which provides for the right to property that may be restricted only following the law. Compulsory expropriation of property for public needs is only allowed in exceptional cases on the basis of a separate law against fair compensation.

The contested norm provides, however, that the organisation of gambling and the provision of gambling services are prohibited in the entire administrative territory of Rīga, except where such gambling venues are located in four- or five-star hotels.

Six years ago, the Riga City Council decided to close down 42 gambling venues in the city centre, and last September it decided to cancel 139 permits for gambling venues outside the city centre. They must close within five years.

The Constitutional Court found that the organisation of gambling is a legal commercial activity existing in conditions of free competition.

The legislator has given the municipality the competence to assess independently which areas or territories of the municipality should be subject to restrictions on the organisation of gambling. The municipality is also entitled to designate an unlimited number of areas in the spatial plan where gambling is not allowed. However, the municipality must comply with the principle of territorial assessment laid down in the authorisation granted by the legislator.

The Constitutional Court found that the municipality had failed to state reasons why the organisation of gambling was prohibited in the functional zones of the spatial plan, where commercial activities were envisaged as one of the permitted uses of the territory.

In accordance with the principle of assessment of territories laid down in the Law on Gambling, the municipality must assess, for example, in the spatial planning process, the built-up area and the location of infrastructure facilities, the population density, the interests of residents and traders and other relevant aspects which may be the basis for imposing restrictions on the organisation of gambling.

No such assessment has been carried out by the municipality prior to the establishment of restrictions on gambling throughout the territory of Riga.

The Constitutional Court held that the restriction on fundamental rights contained in the contested norm was incompatible with Article 1 and the first, second and third sentences of Article 105 of the Constitution.

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Baltics

HIPTHER Announces the BALTIC & Scandinavian Gaming Awards 2024 Shortlists

Published

12 hours ago

April 30, 2024

George Miller

HIPTHER Announces the BALTIC & Scandinavian Gaming Awards 2024 Shortlists

Reading Time: 2 minutes

HIPTHER, the leading event organizer for Gaming and Technology industries in Europe, is excited to announce the Shortlists for the Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards (BSG Awards), that will honour iGaming industry excellence in the Baltics and Nordics regions for 2024.

Hosted under HIPTHER’s Pioneering GameTech Event in the Baltics, the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit, the BSG Awards recognize and celebrate the achievements of the very best of the iGaming industry, as voted by their peers.

The Final Vote will be cast at the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit by the participants of the conference, and the Winners will be crowned at the BSG Awards 2024 Ceremony that will take place during the event on 4 June 2024.

HIPTHER is thankful to all the esteemed industry professionals who voted online and decided the Shortlists across a series of streamlined Categories covering iGaming Operators, B2B Providers, and Connected Services such us Testing Laboratories and Payment Service Providers.

View the Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards Shortlists

Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards – BSG Awards 2024 Categories

Baltics: Operators Categories:

Best Online Casino in the Baltics
Best Sports Betting Operator in the Baltics

Baltics: B2B Categories:

B2B Providers (Sports): Best eSports Service Provider in the Baltics
Best Fantasy Sports / Virtual Sports Provider in the Baltics
Rising Star in Baltic Fantasy Sports / Virtual Sports
Rising Star in Baltic Sports Betting Technology
Best Sports Betting Provider in the Baltics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Online Casino Provider in the Baltics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Slots Provider in the Baltics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Live Casino Provider in the Baltics
B2B Providers (Casino): Rising Star in Baltic Online Casino Technology
Connected Services – Best Payment Service Provider in the Baltics
Connected Services – Best Testing Laboratory Provider in the Baltics

Nordics: Operators Categories:

Nordics: Best Online Casino in the Nordics
Nordics: Best Sports Betting Operator in the Nordics

Nordics: B2B Categories:

B2B Providers (Sports): Best eSports Service Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Sports): Best Fantasy Sports / Virtual Sports Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Sports): Rising Star in Nordic Fantasy Sports / Virtual Sports
B2B Providers (Sports): Rising Star in Nordic Sports Betting Technology
B2B Providers (Sports): Best Sports Betting Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Online Casino Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Slots Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Casino): Best Live Casino Provider in the Nordics
B2B Providers (Casino): Rising Star in Nordic Online Casino Technology
Connected Services – Best Payment Service Provider in the Baltics
Connected Services – Best Testing Laboratory Provider in the Baltics
Connected Services – Best Hosting Provider in the Baltics

Congratulations and best of luck to all the Shortlisted Companies!

See you in Tallinn & the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit 2024 – Register Now

Baltics

Evoplay bolsters presence in Lithuania with Betsafe deal

Published

5 days ago

April 26, 2024

George Miller

Evoplay bolsters presence in Lithuania with Betsafe deal

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, is expanding in the Baltics thanks to its latest tie-up with Betsafe in Lithuania.

The deal sees over 90 of the supplier’s leading titles live on the Betsson Group’s Lithuanian brand Betsafe, a leading operator in the market.

Included in the agreement are Evoplay’s top-performing titles such as Elven Princesses, Hot Triple Sevens and The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy which are now available for Betsafe players.

The latest integration follows a string of similar deals for Evoplay who has continued its expansion across regulated markets in Europe and beyond.

Ihor Zarechnyi, CBDO at Evoplay, said: “Integrating our products to Betsafe, a leading brand in Lithuania, is another important step in our commercial trajectory as our titles continue to grow in popularity and develop a stellar reputation among gaming enthusiasts worldwide.

“Lithuania is a vibrant and dynamic market, and we are thrilled to bring our award-winning content to even more players in the region.”

Aurimas Šilys, Head of Lithuania at Betsson Group, said: “Boosting our offering with a diverse array of titles is of utmost importance for Betsafe as we strive to deliver an unmatched gaming experience to players in Lithuania.

“We are delighted to integrate Evoplay’s dynamic portfolio into our offerings, and we anticipate it will resonate exceptionally well with our audience.”

Baltics

CT Interactive has concluded a key deal with Twinsbet.lt

Published

1 week ago

April 23, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

CT Interactive has concluded a key deal with Twinsbet.lt, marking a significant milestone in its strategic expansion across the Baltic region. The deal, primarily focused on the Lithuanian market, signifies CT Interactive’s commitment to enhancing its footprint in Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Milena Tsankarska, CCO at CT Interactive, expressed her confidence about the collaboration, stating: “We are thrilled to partner with Twinsbet.lt, a reputable player in the market. This strategic alliance aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver cutting-edge gaming experiences to players across the Baltics.”

Antonio Donov, Business Development Manager EMEA at CT Interactive, said: “Twinsbet.lt’s dedication to providing top-quality gaming services resonates with our own values. This collaboration opens up new avenues for growth and innovation, allowing us to cater to the diverse preferences of players in the region”.

Through this deal, games like Chili Fruits, Coffee Magic, Pot-o-Luck, 40 Treasures, Lucky Clover and more will become available at Twinsbet.lt.

“This collaboration with CT Interactive underscores our commitment to delivering unique gaming experiences to our customers. By leveraging CT Interactive’s expertise and innovative solutions, we are confident in our ability to elevate the gaming landscape in Lithuania and beyond”, commented a Gunnar Vilk COO of Twinsbet.lt.