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Latvian Government to Implement New Fees on Live Casino Operators

By Dale Shelabarger, Updated:

The Latvian government has announced that it will impose a fee on businesses that operate live dealer casino tables out of the country.

The exact fee and a timeline of implementation is not yet set in stone. However, as large live casino operators such as Evolution Gaming and Playtech run studios in the country’s capital, Riga, the levy is likely to have a tangible impact on the gambling industry.

Evolution have operated a state-of-the-art production studio in Latvia for some time. Playtech made waves when they opened their brand-new facility earlier this year. The building, which according to the company is the largest and most impressive of its kind, was built on the 16th century fortified walls of Riga Old Town.
playtech live casino.

Playtech’s brand-new studio in Riga, Latvia (Credit: Playtech)

Evolution Gaming, the first company to make a statement in response to the announcement, admitted that they may well be “compromised by this fee.”

However, by the end, Evolution softened their stance, concluding that “the planned fee is not assessed to substantially impact the company’s position.”

According to Evolution’s press release, the Latvian government’s decision on live casino fees was made against the advice of the ruling government and business insiders. The company does not rule out the possibility that the fee may not be imposed at all.

Inside Casino expects more details to follow in the coming weeks.

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