(AsiaGameHub) –   The regulatory responsibilities of Latvia’s Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection are being transferred to the State Revenue Service.

Latvia.- Gambling supervision in Latvia will now be handled by a single agency. The independent Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection (IAUI) has been dissolved. Its regulatory functions will be assumed by the State Revenue Service, which already manages tax collection.

According to the Ministry of Finance, this reorganization of Latvia’s gambling regulation aims to establish a more efficient system, cutting costs and bureaucratic hurdles. The ministry highlighted that online gambling is now the leading sector and expects the reforms to minimize operational friction and establish a contemporary regulatory structure.

The State Revenue Service, the national tax authority, has set up a specific unit to handle licensing and compliance. A separate division will be responsible for carrying out inspections, both remotely and in-person, to maintain technical and financial oversight.

This change occurs as other Baltic nations are also adjusting their gambling policies. Estonia has initiated a gradual decrease in its gambling tax this year, lowering the rate from 6 percent to 5.5 percent. The tax will fall by an additional 0.5 percentage points annually until it hits 4 percent in 2029. Although the decision has sparked debate, some officials contend it will position the country as an igaming center similar to Malta.

In Lithuania, legislators have put forward a proposal for a mandatory player card system for gambling. Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas states that this initiative would provide a complete overview of the market and participant activity.