Latvia Temporarily Bars Online Betting

This week the government of Latvia announced that they were temporarily banning online gambling within its borders until the end of the country's lockdown brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move comes after lawmakers demanded clarity on whether online betting was permitted after the Covid-19 bill stipulated that wagering be halted. The order was issued by the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Authority, who dictated that all obligations must be carried out, including paying clients on bets that were successfully made.

The restrictions will last until at least April 14th, although it's likely that we'll see the lockdown extended. There are 533 people that have tested positive for Covid-19 in Latvia, with one person dying thus far. Those numbers will keep increasing in the near future, during which time a decision will be made on the lockdown.

Latvia has regulated online betting, and the country's revenues boomed by 132.8% last year, with casinos and sportsbooks generating €54.7 million in revenues.