Latvia gambling revenue grows to €307.1m in 2019

Latvian gambling regulator the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection (IAUI) has reported a 10.5% year-on-year increase in gross gambling revenue for 2019, due in part to significant growth within the igaming sector.

Gross gaming revenue for the 12 months to 31 December 2019 totalled €307.1m (£267.7m/$342.1m), up from €277.7m in the previous year.

The IAUI noted year-on-year growth across all forms of gambling, though gaming machines were the main source of income for licensed operators, with revenue up 6.7% to €216.9m.

Online gambling revenue jumped by 32.8% to €54.7m, with punters spending the most on casino games. Online slot games, cards and roulette revenue was up 42.5% to €39.3m, while sports betting revenue jumped 12.3% to €14.9m and poker tournaments 60.8% to €423,000.

Elsewhere, revenue from land-based gaming tables climbed 4.0% to €17.3m, in-person sports betting revenue increased 16.8% to €3.2m and bingo halls revenue jumped 8.2% to €232,000.

The IAUI also noted that other activities including bars and billiards brought in an additional €17.3m in revenue, pushing overall turnover for licensed operators up to €324.4m for the year.

Meanwhile, the IAUI published figures regarding the amount of illegal gambling websites it blocked during the past year. Some 68 sites were blocked, while 87 IP addresses were also blocked.

Since the IAUI began tackling illegal operators in August 2014, it has blocked a total of 1,206 domain and also blocked 2,478 IP addresses.

Publication of the full-year results comes after the IAUI in January launched a new self-exclusion scheme, with citizens now able to prohibit themselves from gambling for 12 months.

The register, which is the responsibility of the IAUI, was established under the Gambling and Lotteries Law and went live on 1 January.