Lithuania's Ministry of Finance recently proposed a legislative amendment to mandate the "Player Card" system from January 1, 2029, to monitor individual gambling activities both online and in physical venues. This measure requires each gambler to possess a physical card, linking gambling transactions to personal identities, thus facilitating government authorities to track deposits and profits across operators. The legislation also envisages gradually phasing out cash payments in casinos, replacing them with non-cash transactions linked to the Player Card. Frankly speaking, this "one card per person, full trace" approach is considered a fairly strict regulatory measure in Europe.
Three-year transition period, partial changes to take effect in 2027
According to local reports, the draft grants clearer authority to the gambling regulatory body to oversee compliance in both physical and remote gambling. The government will set a three-year transition period, allowing operators ample time to upgrade or replace equipment to meet new requirements. However, some operational and market supervision changes will take effect earlier, starting from May 1, 2027. Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas emphasized that the transition period is intended to give operators time to adjust systems to comply with the non-cash payment requirements by 2029. Additionally, operators will need to deploy systems capable of detecting risky gaming patterns and intervening to prevent problem gambling.
Player Card: A core tool for responsible gambling
Vaitiekūnas stated that the Player Card is a core tool of responsible gambling policy. "It enhances the prevention of problem gambling and ensures that the main goal—reducing the accessibility of gambling and its potential harm to health—is truly achieved." The legislation will require operators to integrate identity verification, transaction monitoring, and exclusion list checks with the Player Card system. This proposal is part of a broader strategy by the government to curb gambling harms. Previously, Lithuania tightened gambling advertising restrictions in July 2025 and raised the legal gambling age from 18 to 21 (effective November 2025). From a broader European perspective, Lithuania's measures align with many countries' direction towards enhancing player protection—for instance, Australia recently announced a ban on gambling ads during children's viewing times and sports broadcasts, and Ukraine has implemented an automatic system to block military personnel from accessing online gambling services. For more global gambling regulatory updates, continue to follow PASA official website.
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