The Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority, operating under the Ministry of Finance, recently expanded its blacklist of restricted online gambling domains. This action brings the total number of blocked websites to 1,910.
Four domains associated with Flagman Casino – flagman.casino, flagman-casino1.com, flagmancasino16.com, flagmancasino17.com, and flagmancasino18.com – were added to the list on July 3rd. These sites, all operated by GALAKTIKA N.V., were deemed to be operating illegally without the necessary Lithuanian license.
Enforcement of Gambling Regulations
The Control Authority is empowered by the Republic of Lithuania’s Gaming Law to actively suppress unlicensed gambling operators. This includes various measures, such as payment processing restrictions and DNS blocking, to prevent Lithuanian citizens from accessing these sites. The recent additions to the blacklist exemplify this ongoing effort.
The blacklist already includes numerous prominent international gambling websites, including but not limited to unibet.com, williamhill.com, pokerstars.eu, and bet365.com, along with many of their regional variations.
Context: Advertising Restrictions and Market Shifts
This intensified regulatory action coincides with Lithuania’s broader initiative to curb gambling advertising. A nationwide ban, initially announced in November, is scheduled for full implementation by 2028. The initial phase of this ban will significantly restrict gambling advertisements across television, radio, and online platforms. Online ads will be prohibited from directly linking to gambling websites, while television and radio ads will be limited to 15-second spots with restricted airing frequency.
It is also noteworthy that Betsson recently launched its flagship brand in Lithuania, replacing its previous Betsafe offering. This strategic shift occurs within the context of the increasing regulatory scrutiny and upcoming advertising restrictions.
