Baltics
Baltic regulators panel discussion and round table confirmed at MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit (Tallinn, Estonia)

Baltic regulators gather this August in Tallinn at the 3rd edition of the MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit (live conference).
The Baltic online and land-based gambling industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 lockdowns and tax revenues of the Baltic states have fallen drastically during the first semester of 2020.
In Estonia, the restrictions imposed due to coronavirus are having a significant impact on gambling tax receipts, to the extent they are paralyzing many activities, including those related to social welfare, financed by the tax and under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the ministry says.
Lithuania’s gambling revenue for Q1 2020 has fallen 2.8% year-on-year to €25.9m, with an increased online contribution not enough to offset land-based declines caused by Covid-19.
Despite the decline in revenue, turnover across all licensees was up 13.8% to €296.5m in the three months to March 31. This was due to a significant jump in the contribution from online betting and gaming, which climbed 54.2% to €201.2m, meaning the channel accounted for 67.9% of market turnover in Q1. With Lithuania’s land-based venues closed from 16 March, turnover for the channel was down 20.8% to €94.3m.
The Latvian parliament (Saeima) has passed a bill on June 5 that effectively allows the return of gaming. Under the bill, both online and land-based gaming operations can return to business. As a result, the gambling industry in Latvia is planning to return as of June 9.
All gaming operations in Latvia were banned after a bill introduced on March 22. This was a direct result of the country’s government aiming at reducing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Back in April, the Latvian government updated the bill, effectively banning online gaming with an instant effect.
At the live edition of MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit that will be held on the 6th of August in Tallinn at Radisson Blu Hotel Olümpia Tallinn, the Baltic regulators are joining a unique panel discussion and round table discussion to bring the latest information about the outcome of the lockdowns, but also to discuss together with the industry the way forward.
The panel discussion will be moderated by the MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit Ambassador, Andrius Gabnys (Attorney At Law – Gabnys Law Firm) and will be joined by Sören Meius (Estonian Ministry of Finance), Lolita Sumskaite (Ministry of Finance Lithuania) and Signe Birne (Director of Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection of the Republic of Latvia). More names from the Baltic regulatory bodies will be added in the upcoming weeks.
Make sure to book as fast as possible as the seating is limited! You can choose one of the packages that include either delegate pass or delegate pass and accommodation combo (VIP Package)!
As mentioned in earlier press releases, the conference is going ahead as planned and based on official sources, Estonia has allowed from June 1 for citizens from EU and EEA countries with a slow current spread of COVID-19 to enter the country without the requirement of a 14-day self-isolation period.
You can consult the list that is updated weekly on the following link.
As in earlier years, the conference will also feature the next edition of the Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming Awards (BSG Awards). Read more here…
MARE BALTICUM – The Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming Summit will once again bring together the leading companies in the Baltic and Scandinavian region for a full day of quality learning and networking with local regulators and industry experts.
You can find more details about the Agenda here or you can register here!
Browse the official event website here: www.marebalticumgaming.com
You can view the photo gallery from the inaugural event on the following link.
Browse the video archives of the panel discussions which were recorded on the 7th of May at the virtual edition of the conference.
For further inquiries about the 2020 live edition of MBGS and BSG Awards (6 August – Tallinn, Estonia), speaking/attending/sponsoring options, make sure to send an e-mail to Andrada Bota (B2B Sales Executive at Hipther Agency) or subscribe to the weekly newsletter on the following link.
Visit www.marebalticumgaming.com for more details!
For media-related inquiries, please contact Alexandru Marginean (Marketing Specialist at Hipther Agency).
Powered by WPeMatico
Baltics
SYNNET CMS Officially Live in Latvia

After extensive development and rigorous testing, the SYNNET Casino Management System is now fully operational at Joker.lv gaming halls in Latvia. This marks a major milestone in the company’s long-term vision of delivering a powerful, intelligent and scalable solution for managing gaming establishments with maximum efficiency.
The launch of SYNNET represents a shift in the way casinos and gaming halls are monitored, managed and optimised. Designed to streamline daily operations, enhance decision-making and improve overall efficiency, SYNNET provides comprehensive control over every aspect of a gaming venue.
Among its standout features, SYNNET includes:
• Integrated jackpot system – Seamlessly manage and customise jackpot configurations across multiple gaming machines.
• Advanced dashboards & widgets – Get real-time insights into casino performance, financials and player behaviour through an intuitive and fully customisable dashboard.
• Floorplan management – A visual representation of all gaming machines and tables for optimised space utilisation and operational efficiency.
• Marketing campaign automation – Target and engage players effectively with built-in tools for promotions and personalised offers.
• Geographic mapping of operations – Gain an overview of all locations, allowing for efficient monitoring and remote management of multiple branches.
With 35 branches and 1150 gaming machines now fully integrated into the SYNNET ecosystem, casino operators can leverage data-driven insights to enhance performance and player engagement like never before.
The post SYNNET CMS Officially Live in Latvia appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Baltics
The Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority (LPT) has completed its inspection: Olympic Casino has been fined almost 8.4 million euros

The company Olympic Casino Group Baltija (OCGB) did not take sufficient steps to identify the origin of Šarūnas Stepukonis’ losing funds, and the monitoring of his financial transactions was only formal and ineffective. Such violations were identified by the Gaming Supervisory Authority, which conducted an inspection of OCGB’s activities in Lithuania. The company was fined almost 8.4 million euros.
The Gaming Supervisory Authority (LPT) investigated the actions taken by OCGB in response to Š. Stepukonis’ transactions on the company’s gaming website from December 2016 to the end of June 2021. The law obliges gaming operators to ensure that customer funds are not obtained from criminal activities or through participation in such activities. It is also mandatory to verify the origin of the funds. LPT found that the measures applied by OCGB were poor and insufficient, and the monitoring of Š. Stepukonis’ transactions was formal.
Gambling organizers must report suspicious transactions to the FNTT. Š. Stepukonis’ transactions had obvious signs that should have raised suspicions for the gambling organizer. However, the FNTT was not informed about this.
During the inspection, evidence was also collected that Š. Stepukonis’ gambling was irresponsible. The gambling company should have noticed this, especially since the client was assigned a personal manager who saw all of his transactions.
“Instead of finding out whether Š. Stepukonis had a gambling problem or informing the supervisory authority, Olympic Casino encouraged him to gamble even more. An individual incentive package was prepared for him. A total of 1.3 million euros was allocated for this. This “bonus” could only be spent on gambling. Other incentives were also allocated,” – comments on the results of the inspection by LPT Director Virginijus Daukšys.
Since mid-2021, gambling companies in Lithuania have no longer been allowed to offer incentives to their customers that they would later lose. Just before this tightening came into effect, Š. Stepukonis’ virtual gambling was moved from Lithuania to Estonia, where it was still allowed to encourage gamblers.
In this way, it was possible not only to maintain incentives for gambling, but also to avoid supervision by the LPT. If an ordinary gambler from Lithuania tried to go and register on the Estonian Olympic Casino website, he would be redirected to the Lithuanian website. However, in the case of Š. Stepukonis, the redirection was not carried out. These circumstances are part of the pre-trial investigation.
During the inspection, a total of five violations of the provisions of the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism and the Law on Gambling were identified.
The law allows for a fine of up to twice the amount of damage caused. The damage was determined to be 6.4 million euros – the amount Š. Stepukonis lost at the Olympic Casino in Lithuania. When calculating the fine, an aggravating circumstance was taken into account – the company did not cooperate during the inspection.
According to V. Daukšys, after this story came to light, steps were taken to prevent similar cases from recurring. The most important change is the law, proposed by the LPT, which obliges gambling companies to take action upon noticing irresponsible gambling and to provide information about it to the LPT.
“Until now, there was no such obligation. Therefore, the LPT did not have information that would allow it to take preventive actions in advance,” says V. Daukšys.
The new Gambling Law will come into force in November this year. Its aim is to reduce the accessibility, attractiveness and potential harm to personal health of gambling.
LPT also reviewed its procedures, adjusted internal procedures, allowing for more frequent scheduled inspections of the activities of gambling companies. In addition, the Ministry of Finance conducted an audit of LPT’s activities. No significant operational deficiencies were identified during the audit. LPT took into account the audit recommendations and allocated more human resources to money laundering prevention functions.
Source: Gambling Supervisory Authority under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania
The post The Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority (LPT) has completed its inspection: Olympic Casino has been fined almost 8.4 million euros appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Baltics
PaymentFarm Rolls Out Innovative AI Anti-Fraud System and Global Card Processing Solutions for PSPs, iGaming and High-Risk Markets

PaymentFarm, a global leader in payment processing solutions for high-risk industries, announced a series of groundbreaking advancements aimed at helping iGaming businesses and Payment Service Providers (PSPs) expand their operations and significantly reduce processing costs. This year, PaymentFarm has successfully integrated an AI-driven anti-fraud monitoring system into its platform while introducing the most competitive card processing rates available worldwide.
In today’s fast-paced digital economy, high-risk sectors such as iGaming face unique challenges—ranging from fraud prevention and compliance complexities to managing steep transaction fees. Recognizing these hurdles, PaymentFarm has taken decisive action to address them head-on. The newly integrated AI anti-fraud system offers real-time transaction monitoring and intelligent risk analysis, effectively reducing chargebacks and minimising raudulent activities. By harnessing sophisticated machine learning algorithms, the system detects anomalies and patterns that traditional methods often miss, ensuring that each transaction is secure and that businesses can operate without disruption.
At the same time, PaymentFarm has overhauled its card processing framework to offer unmatched global rates. By collaborating with a broad network of financial institutions and payment channels, the company delivers secure, scalable solutions that enable iGaming operators and PSPs to manage costs more effectively while expanding into new markets. These strategic improvements not only lower operational expenses but also help businesses navigate regulatory challenges and meet the ever-evolving demands of global commerce.
“At PaymentFarm, we understand that businesses operating in high-risk sectors require not just robust security, but also cost-efficient and scalable payment solutions. Our commitment to innovation is evident in our recent integration of AI-powered fraud detection and our relentless pursuit of the best processing rates in the industry. We are excited to help our clients overcome traditional barriers and achieve sustainable growth worldwide,” Olga Strelnikova, Senior Business Developer at PaymentFarm, said.
The post PaymentFarm Rolls Out Innovative AI Anti-Fraud System and Global Card Processing Solutions for PSPs, iGaming and High-Risk Markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
AGCO6 days ago
AGCO issues $110,000 in penalties to BetMGM Canada for offering cash to induce new gambling customers
-
BetVictor6 days ago
BetVictor Canada launches Tracy McGrady Safer Gambling campaign
-
Central Europe6 days ago
Digitain Partners with Gamingtec to Expand Presence in Europe
-
Asia6 days ago
Asian Poker Tour Announces Cancellation of APT Manila 2025
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
EPIC Global Solutions highlighted as a key element in PrizePicks’ iCAP Accreditation
-
Latest News4 days ago
BMM INNOVATION GROUP TO SHOWCASE ITS WORLD-LEADING TESTING SERVICES FOR BRAZIL’S FAST-GROWING GAMING MARKET AT BIS SIGMA AMERICAS SUMMIT APRIL 7–10
-
Africa4 days ago
Play’n GO announces landmark South African partnership with Hollywoodbets
-
Carlos Gomez4 days ago
Estadio Gana Launches in Mexico