Measures have been taken by the Estonian Riigikogu (the parliament) to create stronger regulations for the gambling industry in Estonia. Laws have been replaced that were considered inept for their purpose. The president must approve the new law before it can be considered a working law.

The main component to the changes is the regulation of internet gambling, this is a first for Estonia. Private operators will have new more strict requirements for land based casinos as well as off track betting facilities. The State monopoly will remain the same on Lottery games.

New operators will be required to submit a minimum of one million Euros as a capital requirement. The existing requirement is 128,000 Euros, so it is quite a large increase. Beginning in January, land based casinos will be allowed a minimum of 20 gaming machines and by July 2010 that amount will double. The current minimum for gaming machines is 8.

The increase in gaming machines was designed to discourage small operators which are hard to monitor. This of course may lead to many small operators going out of business. However these changes have been subject of debate among legislators as the estimated problem gambling rates in Estonia are over six percent of the adult population.


- 2008-10-23