Message 001
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2026) 2308
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Notification: 2026/0439/LT
Notification of a draft text from a Member State
Notification – Notification – Notifzierung – Нотификация – Oznámení – Notifikation – Γνωστοποίηση – Notificación – Teavitamine – Ilmoitus – Obavijest – Bejelentés – Notifica – Pranešimas – Paziņojums – Notifika – Kennisgeving – Zawiadomienie – Notificação – Notificare – Oznámenie – Obvestilo – Anmälan – Fógra a thabhairt
Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délai - Kein Fristbeginn - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nezahajuje prodlení - Fristerne indledes ikke - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - No abre el plazo - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Ne otvara razdoblje kašnjenja - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Non fa decorrere la mora - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Atlikšanas laikposms nesākas - Ma jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dewmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nezačína oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Inleder ingen frist - Ní osclaíonn sé na moilleanna
MSG: 20262308.EN
1. MSG 001 IND 2026 0439 LT EN 18-08-2026 LT NOTIF
2. Lithuania
3A. Lietuvos akreditacijos ir standartizacijos agentūra
Mindaugo g. 12, 03225 Vilnius
Tel. +370 630 66782
Elektroninis paštas info@lasa.gov.lt
3B. Lietuvos Respublikos finansų ministerija
Lukiškių g. 2, 01512 Vilnius
Tel. +370 5 239 0000
Elektroninis paštas finmin@finmin.lt
4. 2026/0439/LT - H10 - Games of chance
5. Draft Law No XVP-1690 amending Law No IX-325 of the Republic of Lithuania on Gaming
6. Remote gambling, player’s card, gaming machine control system
7.
8. The project introduces requirements affecting the provision of remote gambling services and related information systems: mandatory integration of the player’s card and the central register system, real-time data exchange requirements for remote gambling, regulation of remote gambling types and technical operating characteristics, website blocking mechanism, requirements for information systems for the provision of remote gambling services.
Player’s card system: It is planned to introduce a mandatory player’s card for all players, both at physical gambling venues and in remote gambling. Gambling operators will have to verify, in real time through a system managed by the Control Authority, the player’s right to participate in gambling before allowing the player to participate in gambling. The system will operate through a centralised register of player identifiers, gaming limits and temporary restrictions.
Technical and functional requirements for gambling operators: Gambling operators will have to integrate their systems with the player’s card system operated by the Control Authority; carry out real-time data exchange; verify the identity of the player and the right to gamble before each gambling session; ensure the control of gaming limits on a sector-wide basis.
Regulation of types of remote gambling: The draft law specifies the types of remote gambling and their characteristics at the level of the law, including the newly defined ‘live dealer games’. It establishes the criteria for classifying such games as belonging to particular types of games.
Mystery shopping for remote gambling services: It is envisaged to grant the Control Authority the right to carry out mystery shopping for remote gambling services using automated technical means, software scripts and testing tools.
Blocking websites containing prohibited gambling advertisements: The draft proposes to introduce a mechanism allowing the Gaming Control Authority, on the basis of mandatory instructions, to block websites on which illegal gambling advertising is published, even if the websites themselves do not offer gambling.
Key terms: remote gambling, player’s card, control gambling
9. The draft aims to strengthen the protection of players, reduce the risk of problem gambling and related damage, ensure more effective supervision of remote gambling and create conditions for more effective prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. The draft was drawn up taking into account that the existing legal framework does not ensure sufficiently effective application of the limits and restrictions set by the player across all gambling operators, thus allowing the possibility to circumvent responsible gambling measures by using the services of multiple gambling operators. For this reason, it is necessary to introduce measures that will ensure the effective protection of players and uniform application of the regulatory requirements throughout the sector.
9a. Suitability of the measures for attaining the objectives pursued
The main problem addressed by the regulation is that currently the responsible gambling measures and the limits set by the player are applied at the level of an individual gambling operator. Such a system does not guarantee the possibility of controlling the player’s activities throughout the licensed gambling sector and does not prevent the player from circumventing the applicable restrictions. Consequently, the existing measures do not ensure the desired level of protection for players. The measures proposed in the draft directly contribute to the achievement of the set objectives, as they make it possible to ensure the effective identification of players, the application of gambling restrictions and control across the entire sector, rather than solely within the system of an individual operator. This creates the conditions for more effective protection of vulnerable persons and ensures uniform compliance with legal requirements. The objectives of public interest pursued by the draft shall be implemented in a consistent and systematic manner. The proposed measures form a coherent regulatory framework in which player protection, responsible gambling measures, supervision of remote gambling and anti-money laundering objectives are interlinked and complementary.
9b. Necessity
The expected impact on the internal market is limited. The measures apply equally to all licensed gambling operators, regardless of the country in which they are established; they are therefore not discriminatory and do not confer any competitive advantages on national operators. The requirements relate to the implementation of the protective measures laid down in legislation and are directly linked to the performance of regulated activities. The applicable legal rules are not sufficient to achieve the objectives pursued, as they do not enable effective application of player restrictions and responsible gambling measures across different gambling operators. The current system allows players to circumvent individual limits and therefore does not provide sufficient protection against the risks of problem gambling. During the preparation of the draft, consideration was given to the possibility of continuing to apply a decentralised model, under which each gambling operator independently administers responsible gambling measures. This option has been discarded as it does not allow for effective control across the sector and does not address the identified problem. The chosen regulatory model is considered to be the least restrictive measure: the regulation does not create broader data-access or control mechanisms than are necessary to achieve the legitimate objective pursued, striking a balance between the interests of player protection, protection of personal data, and fair competition.
9c. An excessive burden in relation to the objective pursued
The requirements imposed shall be proportionate to the importance of the public interest objectives pursued. Problem gambling can have significant negative social, financial and health consequences for both the player and their family members, whilst inadequate gambling control increases the risks associated with money laundering. Given the nature of these risks and their potential consequences, the proposed measures are considered justified. An assessment of the impact of the measures on the internal market has shown that the restrictions they impose do not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the legitimate objectives. The requirements apply equally to all market participants and are objectively justified and serve to protect consumers and safeguard the public interest. The consequences of failing to achieve the public interest objectives would be more significant than the limited impact on the internal market. In the absence of the proposed measures, the possibility of circumventing the responsible gambling measures would remain, the effectiveness of player protection would be reduced and the effective supervision of the gambling sector would not be sufficiently ensured.
10. References to main texts:
11. No
12.
13. No
14. No
15. No
16.
TBT aspects: No
SPS aspects: No
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European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
