Best Online Casinos in Lithuania

The Republic of Lithuania, simply referred to as Lithuania, is one of three Baltic states in Europe and is located on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. The country covers an area of 65,300 km2 and has a population of 2.8 million. The largest city is Vilnius, which is also the capital of Lithuania.

Its economy is advanced and it’s a developed country. It borders with Kaliningrad Oblast (Russia), Latvia, Poland and Belarus.

Gambling here is well-regulated and as the details below show, online casinos Lithuania are legal and residents are more than welcome to register and play at these sites. Of course, only licensed and regulated sites can operate in the country legally and their license can be issued by either the domestic authority or a foreign one.

Best Lithuanian Online Casinos

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Considering the fact that all forms of gambling, including Lithuanian online casinos, are legal, you can register at all licensed and regulated operators. When choosing the best operator, Lithuanian players should take a few matters into consideration.

The first and the most important one is to always play at casino sites that are either licensed by the Gaming Control Board or by a foreign reputable regulator such as the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. If the casino is licensed by the Lithuanian regulator or a foreign one, it means that it can legally offer its services to the players.

Next up, Lithuania casino sites should offer the best casino games on the market. After all, the main goal of players from this country is to have the most entertaining gaming experience and quality titles are synonymous with that. The more diverse the game library is, the better. Lithuanian players enjoy video slots, poker games, as well as live dealer games. That means that these categories are a must. To get a clear view of the quality of the library, all players have to do is to check which providers have supplied the Lithuanian online casinos. If the brands are reputable, then, the casino’s library will be packed with HD games that feature a lot of in-game bonuses.

A variety of payment methods is also an important feature. Lithuanian players need to have massive flexibility when it comes to depositing and withdrawing money and the more payment methods the casino site features, the easier it will be for players to complete the transactions.

Finally, it is of utmost importance for Lithuania casino sites to have a responsive customer support team that will answer all inquiries made by the players and provide them with an adequate solution. Online casinos need to feature as many available options to contact support. That includes Live Chat, email, social media, phone number, etc.

Some additional features that are worth mentioning are mobile optimization and website interface. Mobile gaming is deemed to be the future of the online gambling industry in Lithuania, which is why it is important for casino sites to either be powered by HTML5 so that Lithuanian players can access them from their mobile browsers, or develop a special mobile app to enhance the mobile gaming experience.

Interface plays a huge part in the overall experience. The math here is easy to understand – the simpler the design is, the more pleased Lithuanian players will be. After all, online casinos in the country are accessed by players of all ages and skills and it is important for them to find what they are looking for without experiencing difficulties.

Additionally, the page load speed needs to be fast. Research shows that slow page speed drives players away, so the faster the desired page of the casino site in Lithuania opens, the better.

Bonuses and promotions play a huge part in the overall quality gaming experience; hence they are a huge contribution to the casino itself. A hefty welcome bonus, reload bonuses, free spins, cashbacks, loyalty programs and tournaments are just a few promotions that are worth mentioning. Even though a general rule is to always look for rewarding bonuses and promotions, that is not the case in Lithuania as they were banned in 2021.

Online Gambling Laws and Regulations in Lithuania

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Now, moving on to an important part of online casinos Lithuania, it is time to discuss the laws and regulations of this industry. As stated earlier online casinos in Lithuania are legal and players have been able to register and play at these sites ever since 2016.

The main law that regulates gambling in Lithuania, including online casinos, is the 2001 Gaming Law. According to the Gaming Law, there are 5 different types of land-based establishments – casinos, bingo halls, betting shops, machine halls (also known as slot halls) and totalizator.

Online casinos were added to the equation with the 2016 amendment. Logically, in order to operate legally in the country, Lithuanian online casinos need to possess a license. Unlicensed casino sites are blocked by ISPs in Lithuania to keep players safe, but the approach is not fully effective as there are some unlicensed sites that operate in the region.

Players who accidentally come across these sites are not prosecuted as the government is lenient towards these activities. Considering the fact that Lithuania is a member of the European Union, EU laws also apply to the industry.

As for the governing body that is in charge of regulating Lithuanian online casinos, it is the Gaming Control Authority, which operates under the country’s Ministry of Finance. One exception to the rule of online gambling in Lithuania is betting on daily fantasy sports (DFS). This type of activity is still not regulated in the country.

According to the Gaming Law, persons under 18 cannot register and play at online casinos. The age limit is even bigger when it comes to land-based gambling. In order to enter these establishments, Lithuanian players need to be at least 21.

Does Lithuania Issue Gambling Licenses?

Just as mentioned earlier, to operate legally, Lithuania casino sites need to be licensed and regulated. Now, the license can be obtained by an internationally recognized authority, but it is worth noting that the Gaming Control Authority also licenses and oversees online casinos that are operating in the country.

In late-2021, one amendment was approved by Lithuania’s Seimas and online-only licenses were introduced. The fees that operators need to pay to obtain a license is €1 million and additional payments, depending on the type of license. Bingo and betting come with €100,000 in additional payments, slots have €300,000 and remote operators have €500,000 in additional payments.

Gambling History in Lithuania

Lithuania’s gambling industry is actually not that old. Before 1992, all forms of gambling were considered illegal in the country. Why? Because back then, Lithuania was part of the SSSR and in the state, the law deemed gambling as an illegal activity.

After Lithuania gained independence in 1990, it started working on its own laws and in 1992, the lottery was the first form of gambling that was legalized. No major changes were made in the industry until 2001.

That is when authorities acknowledged the fact that gambling can be a massive contributor to the Lithuanian economy. Hence, 2001 was the birth year of the Gaming Law, which remains the main piece of legislation concerning gambling to this day.

Once the Gaming Law 2001 went into effect, all forms of land-based gambling were legalized. Online casinos Lithuania didn’t enter the chat until 2016 and here’s why. During the 2000s and early 2010s, these sites weren’t still popular.

Yes, there were some players from Lithuania that registered and played, but the platforms were in their inception stages. In 2015, they made a massive boom and thousands of Lithuanian players started registering at these sites.

Logically, the government wanted to protect them and make sure that they have a pleasant and secure gaming experience, which is why it decided to act quick. In 2016, the Gaming Law was amended and with the latest change, online casinos were legalized.

ISPs were also introduced to block unlicensed sites, however, that system is reportedly not as effective as authorities envisioned since only the biggest illegal casino sites Lithuania are blocked. The Gaming Control Authority was put in charge of regulating online gambling.

One important thing that is worth noting about online gambling is the fact that in 2021, all forms of gambling advertising were banned. This also includes bonuses and promotions such as gifts, discounts, test games, etc. The rule was made effective on July 1, 2021.

Is Gambling Legal in Lithuania?

All forms of gambling in Lithuania are considered legal. That includes brick-and-mortar casinos and Lithuanian online casinos. However, if players want to register at these sites and enjoy the games, they need to be at least 18 years old, according to the Gaming Law. Moreover, the Gaming Law states that to enter gaming establishments, players need to be older than 21. The only form of gambling that is currently not regulated in the country is betting on daily fantasy sports.