Lithuania approved an amendment requiring financial institutions to block all payment card transactions from unregulated operators [Tuesday]. The government said online gambling participation with unlicensed operators will be significantly restricted following the signing of the law.
The payments will now be blocked for users when they attempt to gamble through unlicensed gambling portals.
This, the government argued, would work to boost gambling protections and contribute to an overall increased transparency in the gambling sector.
Only licensed operators will be included in a whitelist that will authorise the businesses to conduct payments as normal.
Managers of payment service providers who do not comply with the new law could be subject to fines ranging from €1,800 to €3,800.
