The East European country of Latvia announced a significant increase in gross gambling revenue last year. The Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection (aka IAUI) said that GGR grew 110.5% year on year in 2019.
Latvia started taking a tough stance against illegal gambling operators around six years ago. Since then, it has systematically blocked thousands of domains and IP addresses. Last year alone, the IAUI blocked close to 90 IP addresses and 68 sites.
Earlier this year, the IAUI created a self-exclusion program, and Latvians are able to exclude themselves for up to a year.
Highlights from the IAUI 2019 include:
- Gross gaming revenue up until December 31st, 2019 was EUR 307.1 million (up from EUR 277.7 million in the previous year.
- Gaming machines contributed the most income for licensed gaming operators in Latvia, with revenue rising to EUR 216.9 million – a hefty 106.7%.
- Online gambling rose 132.8% to EUR 54.7 million.
- Latvian online gamblers spent most of their money on casino games.
- Revenue on online slots, cards and roulette climbed 142.5% to EUR 39.3 million.
- Sports betting revenue grew to EUR 14.9 million (112.3%).
- Revenue from poker tournaments grew 160% to EUR 423,000.
- Land-based gaming tables contributed EUR 17.3 million to the total.
- In-person sports betting revenue grew to EUR 3.2 million (116.8%).