Gambling Laws in Estonia

Estonia is an attractive country regarding the legalities of gambling, both for players and operators, as most types are legal and easy to access. Residents have a wide range of options, while operators benefit from one of the lowest tax rates in Europe.

Which Gambling Activites Are Legal in Estonia?

The main legislation is the 2008 Gambling Act, which effectively makes all forms of gambling legal in the country.

Operators are required to obtain a licence to offer their services to residents, with the Estonian Tax and Customs Board being responsible for this. Two types are available: a casino and a toto licence, with the latter covering sports betting.

Land-Based and Online Casino Gaming

Land-based casinos have been legal since 1995. There are 50+ scattered throughout the country, which is a lot given Estonia's relatively small size compared to other EU member states. Many casinos are run by Olympic Entertainment Group (OEG) with Estonia's biggest being the Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn.

Due to law changes in 2010, venues must now have at least 40 slot machines and five gaming tables. This resulted in the closing of many smaller slot halls.

Online casino gaming has been legal since 2008, although licences to foreign companies were only awarded in 2011. The first operator in Estonia to obtain a licence was OlyBet, which Olympic Casinos owns. Access to online slots, RNG tables and live casino games is restricted to licensed sites, with unlicensed operators being actively blocked by government ISPs.

Playing Real Money Poker

Poker gambling has been legal since 1995, with most of the larger casinos offering the game. Interestingly, Estonia is one of just a few countries that defines poker as a game of chance and skill. While poker is a popular game, there are no separate halls due to a lack of distinction between venues in licensing laws.

Online poker is also legal in Estonia and has been since 2008. Operators are required to hold a licence to offer the game to residents. OlyBet was one of the first to do so, with PokerStars following shortly behind.

Bingo Gambling

Both online and offline bingo games are legal. They are classed as a type of lottery and are under a monopoly by the country's state-owned company, Eesti Loto. Offline bingo consists only of the televised version, Bingo Loto and isn't very popular. Residents can access online bingo gambling via the Eesti Loto site where a range of tickets can be purchased.

Lotto, Keno, Scratchcards and Instant Win Games

Lottery games are legal and under monopoly by Eesti Loto. Games include standard lotteries, scratch cards, keno, bingo and Viking Lotto. Profits are used to fund various causes such as science and educational projects, the country's Olympics committee, welfare and cultural projects. Playing online is also legal and the same services are available which can be found in any of the Eesti Loto-approved vendor shops.

Social Gambling and Online Crypto Casinos

Estonia's gambling laws do not mention free online or social casinos, so these activities are unregulated. The same applies to lootboxes and skins gambling.

Government officials were initially sceptical of cryptocurrencies. While the country does recognise coins as having digital value, they are still not classified as legal tender. Foreign online crypto casinos do accept residents from Estonia though this is a grey area when it comes to current laws.

Is It Legal To Place Sports Bets in Estonia?

Yes, and this has been the case since 1995. Initially sports betting shops were only permitted to operate by Spordiennustus, a company owned by the Olympics committee. However, EU regulations meant the country was legally obliged to open the market to other companies.

Today, sports betting kiosks can be found nationwide. While football betting is the most popular market, the country also has a horse racing track, the Tallinna Hipodroom.

Online sports betting is legal in Estonia and has been since 2010. Spordiennustus has its website, but residents are also free to bet on sports via other licensed online gambling sites.

What's the Minimum Age to Gamble in Estonia?

The legal gambling age is 21, with the only exception being lottery games which can be played by those aged 16+.

Estonian Gambling Tax Regulations for Operators and Players

Estonia dictates that operators must pay taxes based on their gambling activites. The rates are around €1,278 per table, €300 per gaming machine (+10% of bets minus winnings), €31.95 per game of skill machine and 18% lottery tax. Online gambling operators pay one of the lowest tax rates in Europe at just 5% of total bets minus winnings. Gamblers in Estonia can enjoy their winnings completely tax-free.

History of Gambling Laws in Estonia

Estonia was once part of the USSR, where most forms of gambling were illegal. However, shortly after gaining independence in 1991, the country began implementing its own laws. This began with the 1994 Lottery Act, which gave birth to Estonia's national lottery.

The 1995 Law on Gambling gradually made other forms legal in the country, but it wasn't until 2008 that Estonia laid out a more updated framework in the Gambling Act. This was designed to provide more regulation in the industry and increase revenue but also made online gambling legal.

Key Facts

• Land-based and online casino gaming is legal in Estonia, with operators required to obtain a licence.

• Bingo and lottery games are legal but fall under the monopoly control of Eesti Loto.

• Online and offline sports betting is legal, with operators required to hold a licence.