Latvian online gambling market revenues grew by 35.4% year-on-year during Q1 2019, with combined revenues topping €12.3m (£10.6m). New figures released by the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection of Latvia (IAUI) show a 39.2% year-on-year rise in gross gambling revenues from online casino gaming which generated €8.8m during the first three months of 2019.
According to the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection (IAUI), gambling revenue in Latvia increased 15.3% year-on-year in the first quarter. Revenue for the three first months of 2019 amounted to €77.5m, compared to €67.2m in the opening quarter of last year. Income from gambling was also up 15.9% from €63.5m to €73.6m, with gaming machines the most popular form of betting in the country. Licensed operators took €56.4m in revenue from gaming machines in Q1, up 12.6% on €50.0m in 2018.
Gaming tables, including roulette and blackjack, contributed €3.9m to the total income figure, up 6.4% on €3.7m last year. Bingo income was also up by 44.8% to €73,000, while betting points income jumped 55.2% to €848,000.
Casino games were responsible for €8.8m of this income, up 39.2% on last year, while online betting brought in €3.5m for licensees, representing a year-on-year rise of 27.1%. Card tournaments income hit €73,000, up 15.8% on Q1 of 2018.
In terms of illegal online gambling activities, the IAUI moved to block 41 domain names in Q1, as well as 68 IP addresses. Since August 1, 2014, a total of 1,156 domain names and 2,459 IP addresses have been blocked as part of ongoing efforts by the IAUI to clamp down on unlicensed gaming.
