A Proposal to Increase the Age for Gambling Participants to 21 Will Reach the Seima

KAUNAS,  Lithuania (December 28, 2023) — Seimas member Justas Džiugelis intends to submit amendments to the Law on Gambling to parliament, proposing to increase the age limit for gambling participants from 18 to 21 years.

According to Lithuanian daily newspaper ‘Kauno diena’ if the Seimas approves, the minimum age of all gambling participants would be set at 21 years.

Persons under the age of 21 would be prohibited from entering gambling houses (casinos), slot machine and bingo halls, betting and totalizator points. It is also proposed to ban persons under the age of 21 from participating in remote gambling.

This initiative of a group of parliamentarians aims to reduce the risk of problem gambling in the vulnerable youth age group.

According to J. Džiugel the data of the Gambling Supervision Service reveals, as many as 7 percent of all persons registered in the register of individuals with restricted gambling in our country. consists of 18-20 years age youth.

According to the Seimas member the calculations of the Ministry of Finance, during the 9 months of this year, the total gambling income increased by 15%. compared to the same period last year.

The current Gambling Act sets two age limits for gambling: 18 and 21.

The law prohibits the admission of persons under the age of 18, as well as persons who have not presented an identity document, to slot machines and bingo halls, betting and totalizator points. It is also prohibited for persons under the age of 18 to participate in remote gambling.

Games organized in a gambling house (casino), including these games organized remotely, can only be played by persons who have reached the age of 21. It is also prohibited to allow persons under the age of 21 to enter the gambling house (casino).

From January 1, 2023 An amendment to the Law on Lotteries entered into force, increasing the age of lottery players from 16 to 18.

The new regulation is proposed to enter into force in 2024. July 1

SOURCE: Kauno diena.