Lithuania Plans Mandatory Gambling Player Cards by 2029
- Lithuania’s Finance Ministry proposes mandatory player cards for all gambling operators by January 1, 2029.
- The plan includes a full transition to cashless transactions in gambling venues.
- A third of Lithuania’s gambling market is currently illegal, raising concerns about players moving offshore due to restrictions.
- No other EU member state has a similar cross-operator tracking system with a cashless mandate.
The Lithuanian proposal aims to enhance monitoring of gambling activities and reduce problem gambling by linking player cards to individual identities, enabling real-time transaction tracking across operators. The initiative is part of broader reforms including raising the legal gambling age and stricter advertising rules.
If implemented, Lithuania would be the first EU country with such comprehensive regulations, potentially setting a precedent for others despite concerns about driving players to unregulated markets. ( Source )
