Is Online Gambling Legal in Lithuania?
Online gambling is fully legal in Lithuania, regulated under the national Gambling Law. Only licensed operators are allowed to offer games to residents, and licenses are issued by the Lithuanian Gambling Authority. This includes casinos, poker platforms, sports betting, and lottery services that operate in strict compliance with applicable standards.
Unlicensed platforms are officially blocked by the government, but many offshore sites still accept Lithuanian players. These services may fall into a legal gray zone, restricted under local law but not actively prosecuted when accessed from within the country. In practice, players use both local and international sites, depending on access and payment preferences.
Gambling Regulators and Licensing in Lithuania
Gambling in Lithuania is controlled by the State Gambling Supervision Authority. This agency is responsible for reviewing license applications, auditing licensed operators, and monitoring how gambling services are provided to players. Any platform that wants to operate legally in the country must obtain a license under national law.
Licenses are only issued to companies that register as legal entities in Lithuania and host their gambling systems within the country. This setup allows the regulator to monitor games, review payout logs, and enforce rules related to technical integrity and user protection.
License Conditions
The application process requires each platform to meet strict criteria. These include:
- Local company registration
- Server infrastructure based in Lithuania
- Verified financial stability
- Fair play certification and system audits
- Internal tools for deposit control and self-exclusion
- Cooperation with the authority during investigations
Once approved, operators must follow ongoing rules covering game fairness, advertising limits, player data retention, and financial operations.
Offshore Gambling Sites
Some players might still register with foreign sites regulated by other jurisdictions. These platforms, while under other legitimate regulations, fall outside Lithuanian enforcement. The government maintains a blacklist of unauthorized domains, so using them comes with trade-offs:
- ISPs are required to block these sites, which means players may lose access without warning.
- Bank transactions may be flagged as suspicious and blocked.
- The national regulatory authority cannot intervene in disputes if winnings are withheld.
Enforcement against the use of unapproved websites focuses on restricting access rather than punishing individual players. There are generally no fines or consequences for residents who choose to play at offshore casinos. Despite this, players should be cautious and understand these limitations before gambling on them.
