Latvia has launched a new self-exclusion program for punters who're concerned about their gambling activities, with the new feature having launched on January 1st, 2019.
The program will let gamblers self-exclude from betting sites for a period of one year. Players will simply have to put in a request in writing to either the gaming regulator or the operators themselves. Latvia has a regulated online betting industry, and this new measure will hopefully be able to provide assistance for those who need it. According to Latvia's regulator, the Lottery and Gambling Supervisory Authority, says that there have been 125 people applying for funded help for betting addiction.
Commenting on the new program the regulator said, "The purpose of the register of self-denied persons is to protect the public interest and the right of natural persons to refrain from excessive gambling activities, including interactive gambling, or participation in interactive lotteries. The exclusion applies to participation in all statutory gambling and interactive lotteries."
Comments
Yeah...definitely there's have to be a program like that anywhere in the world and not just in Latvia really...the 125 people who already asked for help are certainly not the only addicted gamblers in the area but hopefully other who's been struggling will seek for help as well through that.
Taking into consideration the fact that many of the landbased casinos in Latvia were closed down and therefore more people are playing online, it makes sense to have a problem like this. I think it should be an option like this everywhere in the world so that people that need help to stop can do it.
sharpe