Baltics

All Gambling Halls in Riga Threatened with Closure – Industry Raises Alarm

Published

9 months ago

August 29, 2025

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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

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Baltics

HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026 Agenda Unites Digital Governance, AI, Fintech & Regulated Growth

Published

1 week ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

hipther-baltics-&-nordics:-tallinn-2026-agenda-unites-digital-governance,-ai,-fintech-&-regulated-growth

HIPTHER has officially revealed the Agenda for HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026, taking place on 2 June at Hilton Tallinn Park, bringing together regulators, operators, fintech builders, founders, compliance leaders, legal experts, AI practitioners, and startup innovators for the grand finale of the HIPTHER Baltics 2026 series.

Tallinn is not just another conference destination for HIPTHER — it is home base. The city where the #hipthers story evolves, and the natural setting for a conference built around digital governance, startup ecosystems, operational resilience, and the future of regulated innovation.

The newly released program features:

16 sessions across one focused day
2 parallel stages
3 practical HIPTHER Academy workshops
40+ speakers & experts from across the Baltics, Nordics, and wider European ecosystem

One Agenda. Multiple Industries. Real Operational Conversations.

Tallinn 2026 brings together discussions that typically happen in separate rooms: AML supervision, fintech scaling, AI implementation, digital identity infrastructure, crypto payments, operational risk, behavioural science, startup growth, and commercial strategy.

Across the Compliance & Operations Lab and the TechXperience Stage, attendees will explore topics including:

AML supervision, financial intelligence & market trust
Operator-supplier partnerships under mature regulation
Digital identity infrastructure & eIDAS 2.0
AI-powered operations & compliance automation
Player acquisition after the easy-growth era
Stablecoins, Travel Rule & trusted payment infrastructure
Governance, board accountability & operational risk
VC, alternative finance & cross-border startup scaling
Agentic AI and production-ready AI workflows for regulated sectors

The agenda also includes a focused Finland regulatory update alongside keynote sessions examining CRM strategy under tightening Nordic regulation, behavioural science in regulated environments, and the realities of operational AI adoption beyond the hype cycle.

HIPTHER Academy Expands the Practical Layer

Tallinn 2026 continues the expansion of HIPTHER Academy with practical workshops designed for professionals operating inside fast-changing regulated industries.

This year’s Tallinn workshops focus on:

Digital body language & executive communication
Production-ready AI agents for regulated industries
Agentic AI workflows and orchestration systems

More Than a Conference Floor

HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026 also brings back the curated social experiences that have become part of the HIPTHER DNA.

Welcome Drinks – Olympic Park Casino
1 June · 18:00–22:30

Meet & greet in the relaxed and luxurious atmosphere of the new flagship Olympic Park Casino – located at Hilton Tallinn Park hotel.

Nordic Flow: Morning Reset & Networking
2 June · 07:15–08:45

A gentle yoga and breathwork session inspired by the calm, grounded energy of the Baltics and Nordics. Designed for the conference guests and busy professionals, this session will help participants release tension, reconnect with the body, and start the day with balance, energy, and presence. No previous yoga experience is needed.

HIPTHER Baltic & Nordics Gaming Awards + Karaoke @ Fort Bar
Sponsored by Amusnet
2 June · 20:00 – Late Night

Recognising Excellence Across the Baltics & Nordics and connecting in a celebratory atmosphere. Because some of the best conversations happen long after the panels end.

A Baltic-Nordic Industry Room Built for Decision-Makers

HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026 closes the 2026 Baltic series by bringing together the people shaping regulated growth across gaming, fintech, AI, compliance, payments, cybersecurity, and startup innovation — all inside one highly focused, boutique environment built for real conversations instead of expo chaos.

Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, commented: “Tallinn has always represented something unique for us. Not only because HIPTHER OÜ proudly calls Estonia home, but because the Baltic-Nordic region continues to prove that practical innovation, digital governance, and entrepreneurial resilience can coexist without unnecessary complexity.

With Tallinn 2026, we wanted to build more than another conference agenda. We wanted to create a room where operators, regulators, founders, compliance leaders, fintech innovators, and AI practitioners can have honest operational conversations about what comes next.

The future of regulated industries will not be shaped in isolated verticals. It will be shaped through collaboration between technology, compliance, governance, finance, and human decision-making. That is exactly why Tallinn felt like the natural grand finale for our Baltic series.

And frankly, there is no better city in Europe to host these conversations than Tallinn.”

As HIPTHER returns home to Tallinn, the final stop of the series promises a high-level gathering designed around substance, operational insight, and the future of the Baltic-Nordic innovation economy.

HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026
2 June 2026
Hilton Tallinn Park

More information & registration:

https://hipther.com/events/tallinn/

The post HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026 Agenda Unites Digital Governance, AI, Fintech & Regulated Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Andreas Larsson Casino Manager for Entain

Spinomenal content goes live in Estonia via Entain NCE brands

Published

2 weeks ago

May 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

spinomenal-content-goes-live-in-estonia-via-entain-nce-brands

Spinomenal has expanded its presence in Estonia through a new content partnership with Entain NCE (Entain North and Central Europe).

Under the agreement, Entain NCE’s Estonia-facing brands Ninja Casino and Boost Casino will offer Spinomenal titles via Light & Wonder’s OpenGaming platform. Games cited by the company as now available include Majestic King, Demi Gods V and Fairytale Beauties 2.

The deal extends Spinomenal’s wider commercial relationship with Entain across regulated European markets, with the Estonia rollout delivered through Entain NCE’s regional operation.

Yossi Shayovits, Head of Business Development for Spinomenal, said: “Entain is one of the most influential groups in the global gaming industry, and expanding our presence with them in Estonia demonstrates the quality of our content. This is an important part of a broader, evolving relationship across different markets, and we look forward to what’s to come.”

Andreas Larsson, Casino Manager for Entain, added: “Time and time again, Spinomenal knows what it takes to create content that our players genuinely love. Estonia marks the next chapter in a highly productive partnership that we expect will deliver strong results.”

The post Spinomenal content goes live in Estonia via Entain NCE brands appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Baltics

PopOK Gaming partners with Lithuania’s TOPsport

Published

2 weeks ago

May 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

popok-gaming-partners-with-lithuania’s-topsport

PopOK Gaming has partnered with Lithuanian operator TOPsport to integrate PopOK’s content into TOPsport’s platform.

Under the agreement, TOPsport players will gain access to PopOK Gaming’s catalogue, including slots, live casino titles and instant games.

“We are incredibly proud to collaborate with TOPsport, a brand that defines excellence in the Lithuanian market,” said Luiza Melikyan, Head of Business Development of PopOK Gaming. “Our mission has always been to provide high-quality, entertaining content that resonates with players. Partnering with a market leader like TOPsport allows us to showcase our innovation to a massive audience and reinforces our commitment to growth in regulated European markets.”

TOPsport CEO Dainius Gulbinas said: “This collaboration is an important step for both teams. PopOK’s engaging content and dynamic entertainment format are a strong addition to the TOPsport platform, helping us deliver even more variety, quality, and excitement to Lithuanian players.”

PopOK Gaming said the integration supports TOPsport’s strategy to broaden its entertainment offering in the region.

The post PopOK Gaming partners with Lithuania’s TOPsport appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.