The Ministry of Finance’s proposal for mandatory player cards has been approved in a series of amendments to Lithuania’s gambling legislation.
Lithuania.- The Gambling Control Authority has confirmed that mandatory player cards will be required to access most forms of gambling in Lithuania. Proposed by the Ministry of Finance earlier this year, the measure has been approved as part of a series of amendments to gambling legislation and will be phased in through 2027 and 2028, with full implementation expected by January 1 2029.
The measure will require use of a personalised card to gamble at licensed land-based casinos, gaming halls and online platforms. The card will be linked to a player profile and customers’ national identity number.
The measure will allow identity and age verification while also creating a centralised record of all deposits, winnings and losses across all operators, allowing the Lithuanian gambling regulator to monitor activity more effectively, including player spending and responsible gambling safeguards. The card will also integrate with the national self-exclusion register.
The government believes the card will be Europe’s first fully centralised gambling control system introduced by an EU member state. Poland and Norway have card systems to identify players for slot play, but these do not apply to all channels.
While the measure will increase compliance costs for operators, finance minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas said the system would be a core tool for responsible gambling, helping to reduce harm and limit access for vulnerable players. The reform also mandates a shift away from cash transactions. From January 2029, payments and payouts in gambling venues will be processed exclusively through non-cash methods tied to the player card. The phased transition is intended to give operators time to upgrade or replace equipment to meet the requirements.
Alongside the technical rollout, other amendments expand the authority of Lithuania’s gambling regulator and streamline compliance obligations for operators from May 1, 2027. The initiative builds on earlier reforms in Lithuanian gambling. In June 2024, the budget and finance committee backed measures to introduce a centralised player database and monthly or annual loss limits. The country has also placed tough restrictions on gambling adverts, with a ban on most outdoor gambling advertising from July 1, 2025, and a complete ban from January 1, 2028.
Elsewhere in Europe, Spain is developing an AI algorithm for the early detection of problem gambling. Based on real microdata, the system will be mandatory for all gambling operators.