Baltics
All Gambling Halls in Riga Threatened with Closure – Industry Raises Alarm
Following applications by three companies, the Constitutional Court (CC) has initiated a case concerning restrictions on gambling operations in Riga, the court announced.
This is not the first time the issue of gambling regulation in Riga has reached the CC. Just last year, the court ruled in another case that a blanket ban on gambling across the entire administrative territory of Riga was unconstitutional. Afterwards, the city council promised to propose a new mechanism for restricting gambling. That mechanism is now also under review by the court.
The new case was initiated on the basis of applications by SIA Alfor, SIA Klondaika and SIA Olympic Casino Latvia regarding sections 2 and 3 of the Riga City Council’s binding regulations “On Restrictions of Gambling Operations in the Administrative Territory of Riga” adopted on the 26th of March.
The contested provisions define the places and areas in Riga where gambling is not allowed, as well as the municipality’s actions in cases where permits have already been issued for locations where gambling is now prohibited.
Gambling is prohibited in municipal-owned properties, neighbourhood centres, educational institution premises and within 300 meters of them, as well as in railway stations, bus stations, airports and passenger ports, within 500 meters of such transport hubs and within 300 meters of other public transport stops. Restrictions also apply to certain functional zones, cultural monuments and protected areas defined in Riga’s spatial plan. However, the restrictions do not apply to four- and five-star hotels.
In addition, the contested provisions stipulate the cancellation of previously issued permits if gambling takes place in prohibited areas, and that any issued permit automatically expires five years after the relevant Riga City Council decision comes into force.
The applicant companies, which hold permits to operate gambling halls in Riga, argue that although the contested rules define specific places and areas where gambling is prohibited, in practice they amount to a blanket ban on such business throughout the city.
They argue that the restrictions limit business activity and property rights, and violate the principles of legal certainty and legitimate expectations. Therefore, they claim the rules are inconsistent with Articles 1 and 105 of the Constitution.
Article 1 states that Latvia is an independent democratic republic. Article 105 provides that everyone has the right to property, that property must not be used against the public interest and that property rights may only be restricted by law.
The Constitutional Court has invited the Riga City Council to submit a written response by the 27th of October, outlining the facts and legal reasoning. The case preparation deadline is the 27th of January, 2026. The court will decide on the type and date of proceedings after preparation.
As previously reported by LETA, the new gambling restriction rules in Riga entered into force on the 1st of April.
A five-year transition period is provided for the cancellation of previously issued permits.
After adopting the rules, municipal officials admitted that all currently known gambling halls are located in areas where gambling will be banned, meaning the new regulations foresee the closure of all existing gambling halls in Riga.
At the same time, the municipality emphasized that the restrictions do not cover the entire city and do not affect operators’ rights to open or expand gambling facilities in four- and five-star hotels.
The council also claimed that the rules were developed based on Constitutional Court recommendations and the results of public consultations held in February this year.
The Latvian Licensed Gambling Association had already announced in the spring that it would most likely challenge the new restrictions in the Constitutional Court, arguing that they are “neither proportionate nor lawful.”
Source: bnn-news.com
The post All Gambling Halls in Riga Threatened with Closure – Industry Raises Alarm appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Baltics
Kanggiten: From B2C Insight to B2B Performance in iGaming
As TechXperience Stage Sponsor of HIPTHER Baltics: Riga 2026, Kanggiten brings its performance-focused platform and operational expertise to the heart of the event’s technology discussions. We spoke with Ivan Korkin, Head of Account Management at Kanggiten, about translating B2C experience into scalable B2B solutions and driving measurable growth in today’s iGaming landscape.
How would you position Kanggiten today, and what core value does your platform deliver to partners?
– Kanggiten today is a modular iGaming platform built specifically for teams that operate on the B2C side. The core idea behind the product is simple: we take over 10 years of real operational experience and translate it into technology that helps partners turn traffic into measurable revenue.
From a technical perspective, the platform combines all key elements: casino and sportsbook engines, aggregation, payments, analytics, CRM, and affiliate management – within a single ecosystem. This allows operators to manage the entire lifecycle without fragmentation.
Another important aspect is adaptability. The platform is designed to support multi-geo operations, including local payment methods, currencies, and compliance requirements, which is critical for performance in different markets.
In terms of collaboration, we provide flexible models – from white label setups for fast market entry within a few weeks, to more customized turnkey solutions depending on the scale and maturity of the project.
What are your next steps for scaling the business and strengthening Kanggiten’s market position?
– Our current focus is split between product evolution and business expansion.
On the product side, we are actively developing new capabilities, including predictive tools that will help marketing teams make more informed decisions based on data patterns inside the platform.
At the same time, we are scaling commercially. We’re onboarding new clients, launching additional brands, and expanding into new markets. 2026 is already showing strong momentum, especially as our visibility in the market has increased and inbound demand continues to grow.
So in practical terms, our priorities are clear: expand geographically, grow the number of active brands on the platform, and continue investing in product development.
How has your experience with end users shaped your B2B approach, and how is this reflected in your product and results? Could you share an example?
– Our B2C background fundamentally defines how we approach product development. We don’t build features based on assumptions – everything is tested and validated through real user behavior.
There are several areas where this is especially visible.
First is retention. Today, sustainable growth is driven more by retention than by acquisition. That’s why we focus heavily on onboarding flows, CRM logic, bonus structures, and reactivation strategies. Retention is not a standalone tool – it’s a system built on continuous testing and data analysis.
Second is segmentation. Personalization only works when it’s built on meaningful segmentation. We test different traffic groups, analyze behavioral patterns, and create tailored scenarios for each segment. This directly impacts monetization efficiency.
Third is the use of AI. At this stage, AI is no longer experimental – it’s embedded into operations. We apply it in fraud prevention, KYC, content generation, and support automation to improve both efficiency and decision-making.
And finally, distribution channels. We work across a wide range of touchpoints, which allows operators to engage users in different environments and adapt quickly when market conditions change.
If we look at a practical example, GEO-specific behavior plays a critical role. In Turkey, even small UI details like how percentage values are displayed can influence conversion.
In LATAM, on the other hand, fraud patterns are more prominent, so we implement additional AI-driven verification layers. These insights are transferable once validated in one market, they can be applied in others with similar characteristics.
What challenges do operators and affiliates most often face after working with other platforms, where do they typically lose revenue or users, and how do you address these issues?
– In most cases, the issues are not unique – they repeat across different operators and platforms.
One of the main gaps is conversion management. Many platforms generate traffic but lack the tools to properly analyze and optimize the funnel. Without clear visibility into user behavior, improving conversion becomes difficult.
Another area is engagement. Gamification is often either too basic or requires additional development. In practice, it should be a core part of the platform, not an add-on, because it directly impacts retention and revenue.
Scalability is also a frequent issue. Platforms may perform well at a smaller scale but struggle under higher load. Without real operational experience, these limitations often appear too late. Our approach combines stable infrastructure with continuous adaptation, allowing us to maintain performance under growth.
Retention is another critical point. It doesn’t happen automatically – it needs to be engineered through segmentation, personalized communication, and ongoing experimentation. This is where our B2C experience plays a key role.
If we break it down further, operators typically lose performance in four areas:
conversion inefficiencies, lack of GEO adaptation, technical limitations, and slow time-to-market.
We address these by building the platform as a flexible system that evolves continuously rather than a static product.
What factors have the greatest impact on growth and conversion today, and how do you see these evolving in 2026–2027?
– One of the main drivers will be hyper-personalization. Platforms will increasingly adapt in real time to individual user behavior, shaping unique experiences for each session.
At the same time, market expansion will continue to fuel growth. New regions and emerging markets will open additional opportunities for operators, along with new approaches to acquisition and engagement.
Another major shift will come from automation. Operational processes will become increasingly automated, reducing manual workload and improving efficiency.
This will be driven not only by AI in general, but by more advanced, agent-based systems that can handle tasks such as content generation, customer interaction, and fraud detection with minimal human involvement.
Overall, the direction is clear: more data-driven decision-making, more automation, and more adaptive user experiences.
The post Kanggiten: From B2C Insight to B2B Performance in iGaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Baltics
HIPTHER Baltics: Riga 2026 Agenda – Where Compliance Meets Reality and Growth Gets Tested
HIPTHER has officially released the full agenda for HIPTHER Baltics: Riga 2026, taking place on 11 May 2026 at the Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga, setting the stage for one of the region’s most focused and practically relevant gatherings at the intersection of compliance, fintech, AI, and player protection.
As the second stop in the HIPTHER Baltics 2026 series, the Riga edition builds on the momentum of Vilnius and sharpens the conversation around what comes next: operating, scaling, and staying compliant in an increasingly complex and tightly regulated environment.
Latvia 2026: Regulation, Risk & Innovation in Motion
The Riga agenda is designed around a simple reality: in today’s market, compliance is no longer a checkbox — it’s the foundation of sustainable growth.
Bringing together regulators, legal experts, fintech leaders, operators, and technology innovators, the one-day conference delivers a high-impact program across two parallel stages:
- Compliance & Operations Lab
- TechXperience Stage
Together, they explore how businesses can remain competitive while navigating regulatory pressure, technological disruption, and shifting market expectations.
From Theory to Practice: What the Agenda Delivers
Across a tightly curated schedule, HIPTHER Baltics: Riga 2026 dives into the real operational challenges shaping the Baltic and wider European ecosystem.
Key sessions include:
- Baltic Gaming Law & Regulatory Outlook – A grounded look at regional frameworks and enforcement realities
- FinTech Supervision in Practice: AI, Risk & Regulation – Moving beyond buzzwords into actual implementation
- Player Protection in Practice – What responsible gaming looks like in real-world operations
- AML Directives & Data Protection – Practical compliance strategies that actually work
- Cross-Border Licensing & Regulatory Harmonization – Navigating multi-jurisdictional complexity
- Fraud Prevention & Emerging Technologies – Staying ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats
- Marketing, Affiliates & Growth in Regulated Markets – How to grow when visibility is restricted
- Payments, Digital Assets & Fintech Innovation – Building resilient financial infrastructure
The agenda also addresses one of the most pressing shifts in digital strategy:
- From SEO to AIEO – The transition from ranking websites to becoming the direct answer in AI-driven search environments
Four Core Pillars Defining Riga 2026
The conference is structured around four key pillars shaping the future of regulated industries:
- Gaming Law & Player Protection – The leading theme: Enforcement, licensing, fraud prevention, and responsible gaming
- FinTech & Payments – Supervision, digital assets, and financial infrastructure
- AI & Compliance – Automation, risk, taxation, and operational workflows
- Growth & Visibility – Market intelligence, affiliates, SEO, and AI-era discoverability
A Boutique Conference Built for Real Conversations
HIPTHER Baltics: Riga continues the series’ commitment to focused, high-level dialogue in a boutique environment, prioritizing meaningful interaction over mass-expo noise.
Attendees can expect:
- Senior-level panels with regulators and industry leaders
- Practical, implementation-driven discussions
- Curated networking with decision-makers across gaming, fintech, and compliance
- A full-day experience culminating in a Golden Hour Mixer and evening social gathering at the Skyline Bar
Part of a Larger Baltic Vision
HIPTHER Baltics 2026 spans three key cities — Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn — each designed to address locally relevant challenges while contributing to a broader regional dialogue on regulation, innovation, and growth.
“This agenda was built for companies that understand growth today depends on getting compliance, technology, and player protection right at the same time. We’re bringing together decision-makers who want honest conversations, practical insights, and partnerships that actually move business forward“ said Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER.
Event Details
HIPTHER Baltics: Riga 2026 – Cross-Border Compliance & Player Protection
Date: 11 May 2026
Location: Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga
More information & tickets: https://hipther.com/events/riga/
The post HIPTHER Baltics: Riga 2026 Agenda – Where Compliance Meets Reality and Growth Gets Tested appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Baltics
HIPTHER Positions Vilnius at the Centre of Europe’s Fintech Growth with New Annual Fintech Summit
Following the successful debut of HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026, HIPTHER is proud to announce the transformation of its Vilnius event into the HIPTHER Fintech Summit –– a new annual pan-European gathering dedicated to fintech innovation, regulation, payments infrastructure, digital banking, compliance, and financial technology growth.
Hosted each year in Vilnius, the Summit is designed to unite fintech leaders, regulators, banking innovators, investors, infrastructure providers, and high-growth technology companies in one of Europe’s most dynamic and fast-rising fintech capitals.
The announcement follows a strong first edition of HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius, where speakers and delegates explored Lithuania’s evolving regulatory landscape, open banking leadership, MiCA readiness, next-generation payments, blockchain infrastructure, AI in finance, and the future of cross-border digital services.
Why Vilnius, Why Now
Over the last decade, Lithuania has emerged as one of Europe’s most ambitious fintech ecosystems, attracting international payment institutions, EMI leaders, blockchain businesses, challenger banking operations, and compliance-focused innovators.
With a progressive regulatory environment, world-class talent, strong digital infrastructure, and strategic access to European markets, Vilnius has become a natural meeting point for the future of finance.
The new HIPTHER Fintech Summit aims to accelerate that momentum by creating a boutique, high-value annual platform where real decision-makers meet to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and shape the next era of European financial innovation.
What the HIPTHER Fintech Summit Will Cover
Attendees can expect deep-dive discussions across topics including:
- Open Banking & A2A Payments
- Cross-Border Financial Infrastructure
- EMI & Digital Banking Growth
- MiCA, AML & Regulatory Readiness
- Embedded Finance & B2B Payments
- AI in Financial Services
- Blockchain & Tokenisation
- Cybersecurity & Fraud Prevention
- Fintech Investment & Scale-Up Strategy
A Boutique Summit for Serious Industry Dialogue & Networking
True to HIPTHER’s established event DNA, the Summit will prioritize quality over crowd size — bringing together senior professionals in a premium environment built for meaningful networking, practical insight, and long-term business value.
Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, commented:
“Vilnius has proven to be the perfect home for this vision. By launching the HIPTHER Fintech Summit, we are establishing a dedicated annual anchor for the European fintech community to gather, collaborate, and navigate the complex but exciting intersection of technology and regulation in a city that truly lives and breathes innovation.”
Looking Ahead
The inaugural official edition of the HIPTHER Fintech Summit will take place in Vilnius in 2027, with dates and early registration details to be announced soon.
Keep an eye out for dates at the official website of HIPTHER Events and follow HIPTHER (LinkedIn, Facebook) and @hipther_agency (Instagram) for updates.
About HIPTHER
HIPTHER is a leading boutique media and events brand connecting leaders across iGaming, fintech, blockchain, AI, compliance, and emerging technology sectors through premium conferences, expert content, and high-value networking experiences across Europe.
The post HIPTHER Positions Vilnius at the Centre of Europe’s Fintech Growth with New Annual Fintech Summit appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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