Online Casino Licences: Latvian and Offshore

Latvian VID Licence: What It Is and Who Gets It

Online casinos are legal in Latvia only if they hold a VID licence for interactive gambling. To obtain authorisation, an operator submits a package of documents to VID: game rules, proof of an account with a bank registered in Latvia (for settling with players), and details of the gaming system with its certification. VID publishes a list of licensed organisers on its website—this is the only official source for verification.

Licensed operators must transfer a player's winnings to the same bank account from which the deposit was made, check participants against the register of self-excluded persons, and comply with Latvia's gambling law. The tax on interactive games is 15%—paid by the operator, not the player. Advertising gambling in Latvia is prohibited outside gaming venues.

How to Verify a Latvian Licence

Open the VID website and find the section listing licensed organisers. Check whether the casino's name or the legal entity shown in the site footer appears in the list. If the name does not appear in VID's register, you are dealing with an unlicensed site. No certificates, seals, or links on the casino's page substitute for verification through the regulator's official register.

Offshore Licences: Curaçao, Malta, and Others

Casinos from international rankings operate under licences from other countries—most often Curaçao, Malta, Gibraltar, or the Isle of Man. These jurisdictions issue gambling licences, but VID does not recognise them: under Latvian law, such casinos have no right to offer services to players in Latvia.

Jurisdictions vary in their level of oversight. Malta and Gibraltar conduct thorough checks on operators, require capitalisation, and audit games. Curaçao issues licences faster and with fewer requirements, so among sites with such a licence you will find both reliable projects and casinos with questionable reputations. You can verify a licence on the regulator's website or through the details in the casino site's footer—usually the permit number and a link to a validator are shown there.

What an Offshore Licence Means for a Player in Latvia

• Latvian law does not protect you: VID does not supervise such casinos; complaining to the Latvian regulator is pointless.
• VID's register of self-excluded persons does not apply: even if you are on the register, an offshore site does not check it and has no obligation to block your access.
• The site may be blocked: VID publishes a list of domains of unlicensed operators and restricts access to them. The casino moves to a new address, but that too may be added to the blacklist.
• Your bank may decline the payment: Swedbank, SEB, Citadele, and Luminor have the right to block transactions to gambling sites without a Latvian licence.
• Disputes are resolved abroad: if a conflict arises with a casino, you will have to deal with the regulator in the jurisdiction that issued the licence, or through arbitration.

Offshore casinos often offer a wider selection of games, currencies, and bonuses, but the player assumes the risks. Latvian law prohibits participation in interactive gambling organised without a VID licence and provides for a fine for individuals.

Fines and Blocking: What a Player Faces

Playing on a site not licensed in Latvia is an administrative offence. The fine for an individual ranges from €70 to €350. In practice, enforcement is aimed primarily at operators, but formally a player also breaks the law by registering on a site without VID authorisation.

VID maintains a list of blocked domains—published on the service's website. Providers are obliged to restrict access to these addresses. A casino typically launches a mirror—a new domain with the same interface and player base, but that too may be added to the list. We do not recommend circumventing blocks and do not publish circumvention instructions—this is a matter of personal responsibility for each individual.

Register of Self-Excluded Persons: How to Protect Yourself from Gambling Addiction

Since April 2026, the register of self-excluded persons has been maintained by VID. A person can apply to VID and prohibit themselves from participating in gambling—both offline and online. The minimum ban period is 12 months; it can be set for longer or indefinitely. All licensed operators must check the register: if a player is on the list, registration and access to games are blocked.

Offshore casinos do not check VID's register—they have no access to the Latvian database and no obligation to do so. Self-exclusion through VID will only protect you from sites with a Latvian licence. If you need help with gambling addiction, contact specialists: Latvia has counselling centres and support helplines.

Payments and Currencies: What Changes with a Licence

Licensed Latvian operators accept payments through accounts with banks registered in Latvia and transfer a player's funds to the source from which they came. This means you deposit from your MasterCard or Visa bank card and receive your winnings on the same card. The currency is the euro, Latvia's national currency since 2014.

Offshore casinos offer dozens of payment methods: e-wallets Skrill, Neteller, MiFinity, payment services Paysera, Revolut, Trustly, Rapid Transfer, vouchers Paysafecard, cryptocurrency gateways like PayCryptos. They support US dollars, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and other currencies. The choice is wider, but your bank may decline a transaction if it recognises the recipient as an unlicensed gambling site.

How We Assess Casinos

We do not advertise gambling and do not encourage registration at any particular site. Our task is to provide information for decision-making. In our assessment methodology, we verify a casino's licence, read player reviews, test payout speed, examine bonus terms, and check support availability. We write honestly about the risks of playing on offshore sites and remind you: a Latvian VID licence is the only lawful licence in Latvia; other options are at your own risk.

More about our criteria in the "How We Assess Casinos" section. A list of vetted operators is in the casino rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I legally play at an online casino in Latvia?

Yes, if the casino holds a VID licence for interactive gambling. The list of licensed operators is published on the VID website. Playing on sites without a Latvian licence breaks the law and may result in a fine of €70 to €350.

What is a Curaçao licence and is it recognised in Latvia?

Curaçao is an offshore jurisdiction that issues gambling licences. Many international casinos operate under such a licence. It is not recognised in Latvia: VID does not consider such sites lawful, their websites may be blocked, and banks may decline payments.

How do I check if a casino has a Latvian licence?

Open the VID website and find the section listing licensed gambling organisers. Check whether the casino's name or the legal entity from the site footer is listed. If not, the site does not hold a VID licence.

Does VID's register of self-excluded persons work on offshore casinos?

No. VID's register of self-excluded persons only applies to operators with a Latvian licence. Offshore casinos do not check the Latvian database and have no obligation to block access to players on the register.

What happens if my bank blocks a payment to a casino?

Latvian banks have the right to decline transactions to unlicensed gambling sites. If a payment is blocked, the funds will be returned to your account. Circumventing the block through another bank or payment service is a matter of personal choice and risk.

Gambling is only available to persons over 18. If you feel you are losing control over gambling, use VID's register of self-excluded persons: the minimum ban period is 12 months, and it can be set for longer. The register will protect you from access to sites licensed in Latvia.