Lithuania to Implement Mandatory Player Cards for Gambling Access

(AsiaGameHub) –   A proposal from the Ministry of Finance, advocating for compulsory player cards, has received approval as part of a series of amendments to Lithuania’s gambling laws.

Lithuania.- The Gambling Control Authority has verified that mandatory player cards will be necessary for engaging in most types of gambling activities across Lithuania. This initiative, initially put forward by the Ministry of Finance earlier in the year, has been sanctioned through a set of revisions to gambling regulations and is slated for gradual introduction throughout 2027 and 2028, with complete enforcement anticipated by January 1, 2029.

This regulation will necessitate the use of a personalised card for gambling at authorised land-based casinos, gaming venues, and online platforms. The card will be connected to a player’s profile and their national identity number.

The system will facilitate identity and age verification, concurrently establishing a central record of all deposits, payouts, and losses across various operators. This will enable the Lithuanian gambling regulator to more efficiently oversee activity, encompassing player expenditure and responsible gambling measures. Furthermore, the card will be integrated with the national self-exclusion registry.

The government considers this card system to be Europe’s inaugural fully centralised gambling control mechanism implemented by an EU member state. While Poland and Norway utilise card systems for player identification in slot machine gaming, these systems do not extend to all gambling channels.

Although this initiative is expected to elevate compliance expenses for operators, Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas stated that the system would serve as a fundamental instrument for responsible gambling, aiding in harm reduction and restricting access for susceptible individuals. The reform also stipulates a move away from cash-based transactions. As of January 2029, all payments and withdrawals within gambling establishments will be conducted solely via non-cash methods linked to the player card. This gradual transition aims to provide operators with sufficient time to update or replace their equipment to comply with the new stipulations.

In addition to the technical implementation, further amendments will broaden the powers of Lithuania’s gambling regulator and simplify compliance duties for operators starting May 1, 2027. This undertaking builds upon previous reforms within Lithuanian gambling. In June 2024, the budget and finance committee endorsed proposals for establishing a centralised player database and imposing monthly or annual loss thresholds. The nation has also imposed stringent controls on gambling advertisements, including a prohibition on most outdoor gambling advertising from July 1, 2025, and a comprehensive ban effective January 1, 2028.

In other European news, Spain is in the process of developing an AI algorithm designed for the early identification of problem gambling. This system, which will be based on actual microdata, is set to become compulsory for all gambling operators.