Lithuania Gambling License

The gambling licence is an indicator of smooth transactions of winnings and reliable gambling conditions for gamblers.Gambling operations are supervised and required to meet all the guidelines and requirements by authorities who regulate licensed gambling businesses. It is important for new and already established businesses alike to follow the rules and regulations that pertain to obtaining a gambling license.

There are several types of licenses available to gambling businesses, all of which are regulated by the Gaming Control Authority under the Ministry of Finance of Lithuania:

• Gaming machines and table games in category A
• Gaming machines in category B
• Bingo
• Totalisator
• Betting

Each type of licence can be obtained by a single company upon request. Gambling companies that wish to facilitate remote gambling must obtain a special license for internet-only gambling. Licensed gambling activities are regulated by the Gaming Control Authority, which also issues remote gambling licenses.

Capital requirements apply to gambling companies. The minimum capital requirement for bingo, totalisators, and betting companies is 289 000 euros. A company requires 144 000 in capital to organize a horse totalisator, but 144 000 in capital for organizing a horse totalisator. The minimum capital requirement for companies offering gambling with category B machines is also 289 000, and 1 158 000 euro is the minimum capital requirement for gaming establishments.

It is necessary for companies who wish to obtain a gambling licence to follow the following steps:

1. The gambling licence type must be filled out on the prescribed form.
2. The company’s formation must be confirmed with documents confirming sufficient capital.
3. Information on the company’s board of directors, the chief executive officer, and the deputy chief executive officer, as well as its chief financial officer is provided. Moreover, reports must note the participants’ participation in management at other companies with which they are affiliated.
4. You should provide relevant information and documents regarding the fund sources from which the company founders and shareholders acquired the registered shares.

It is necessary to submit the above documents via registered mail or email (in digital format) to the Gaming Control Authority. It may take up to 30 days for the final decision to be received.

Revocation of a Gaming Control Authority licence may occur in the following circumstances:

• In spite of being warned about the possibility of their licence being revoked, a company fails to comply with licensing conditions
• False data was provided to get a gambling license by a company
• The liquidation or ceasing of operations of a company
• Cancellation request is submitted by a company

A separate remote gambling licence has been available in Lithuania since 1 July 2022. Companies seeking to provide online gambling services must obtain the relevant licence, a remote gambling permit and approval of the applicable gambling regulations from the Gaming Control Authority. The licensing regime has subsequently been supplemented by stricter responsible gambling and advertising requirements, which must be considered by operators entering the Lithuanian market in 2026.

Since 1 July 2022, remote gambling operators in Lithuania have no longer been universally required to maintain land-based gambling venues as a condition of obtaining a remote gambling licence. Eligible operators may apply for remote gambling authorisation directly, subject to compliance with the applicable statutory requirements. These include minimum capital, licensing and permit obligations, technical certification, player protection, AML/CFT compliance and responsible gambling measures. At the initiative of the Lithuanian Gaming Authority, all unlicensed online gaming operator’s websites are still blocked and blacklisted.

An eligible operator may apply for a Lithuanian remote gambling licence without operating land-based gambling establishments. However, lawful operation requires more than payment of the licence issuance fee. The operator must obtain the appropriate licence, a remote gambling permit and approval of its gambling regulations. It must also meet the applicable minimum capital, technical infrastructure, AML/CFT, player identification and responsible gambling requirements. Regulatory approval is granted only after the Gaming Control Authority has assessed compliance with the relevant legislation.

Casinos, table games, and Category A and B slots will pay a license fee of €0.3 million, and bingo and betting offices will pay a license fee of €0.1 million. From July 2022, companies will need to pay one million euros in order to be licensed for all these activities.

Lithuanian gambling operators are subject to minimum authorised capital requirements determined by the relevant gambling activities. Operators providing category A gaming machine or casino services may be subject to a EUR 1,158,000 threshold, while other gambling categories are subject to different statutory requirements. Remote gambling operators must determine the applicable capital threshold according to the specific games they intend to offer. The separate regulatory requirements for remote gambling, including the required licence, permit and approved gambling regulations, must also be satisfied.

Lithuanian law establishes different minimum capital requirements for different categories of gambling activities. A universal EUR 1,158,000 capital requirement does not apply to all remote gambling business models. Applicants must identify the specific gambling services they intend to provide and determine the relevant statutory capital threshold before submitting a licensing application.

The supervisory body is an institution under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania, participating, together with other State and municipal institutions and institutions, in the implementation of the State policy on the management of gambling and gaming using slot machines and supervision of gambling and slot games in to ensure the integrity, transparent conduct of gambling and slot games activities, protection of rights and legitimate interests of players and persons playing with slot machines in the manner established by the Law on Gambling of the Republic of Lithuania.

According to the Law on Lotteries of the Republic of Lithuania, the Gambling Authority supervises and controls the organization of lotteries in the Republic of Lithuania. In order to protect players’ and operators’ interests and rights, the institution’s primary role is to supervise and control these activities.

Accordingly, the Gambling Control Authority is responsible for fulfilling the goals and duties outlined in the Lithuanian Gambling Law and the Lithuanian Lottery Law, which regulate these activities in our country.

The Office for the Control of Gambling is primarily concerned with ensuring that gambling, slot machines, and lotteries are operated in accordance with the legal acts governing them, as well as managing the institution based on results.

Accordingly, the Gambling Control Authority is responsible for fulfilling the goals and duties outlined in the Lituanian Gambling Law and the Lituanian Lottery Law, which regulate these activities in our country.

Office for the Control of Gambling aims to ensure proper functioning of its institution by complying with the regulations governing gambling and lotteries, as well as provide results-oriented activities.

In general, the Gambling Authority performs the following functions:

• Licensing land-based and online gaming as well as lotteries;
• Permits for the operation of gaming, bingo, betting and gambling rooms (casinos), their amendments, supplements, and cancellations;
• Ensure that gambling and lottery operators comply with laws and other legal acts governing their conduct;
• Draft regulations for gambling, games with slot machines, and lotteries;
• Keep a record of all Lithuanian slot machines.
• Maintain a list of people who are not permitted to gamble.
• Provides passports, seals, and special tokens for slot machines, and enters their information into the slot machines register.

Licenses and authorization, control, legislation, personnel, general affairs, and type approval and registration make up the administration of the Gambling Authority.