Vilnius, Lithuania – The Lithuanian government has stepped up its fight against online gambling fraud, coordinating efforts across multiple state institutions to close regulatory gaps exploited by illegal operators.
Coordinated Action Against Black Market Operators
On November 20, representatives from more than a dozen agencies met to examine how fraudulent domains lure residents into unlicensed gambling schemes. Participants included the Gambling Supervision Service (GSS), the National Cybersecurity Centre, the Bank of Lithuania, the National Police Department, the State Tax Inspectorate, consumer protection bodies, media regulators, and fact-checking organization Debunk.org.
The GSS reported that Lithuania’s national blacklist now contains nearly 2,000 gambling domains, making it one of the country’s largest domain-blocking authorities. New entries are added almost weekly, requiring technical, legal, and administrative steps before courts compel internet service providers to block access. Banks and payment processors are also prohibited from facilitating transactions with banned platforms.
Fraud Risks and Social Media’s Role
Officials highlighted the broader issue of digital fraud, which costs Europe more than EUR 4 billion (US$4.61 billion) annually. Internal data shows that more than half of fraud attempts in Lithuania occur via Meta-owned platforms, underscoring the role of social media in enabling scams. Participants agreed that stronger automation tools and updated legislation are needed to keep pace with rapidly evolving tactics.
Policy Transformation and Advertising Ban
Lithuania’s crackdown aligns with its broader gambling policy overhaul. The government has committed to a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising by 2028, with strict marketing conditions in place during the transition. Regulators believe this will reduce public exposure to gambling while giving operators time to adapt.
Outlook
The combination of aggressive domain blocking, tighter oversight, and a phased advertising ban signals Lithuania’s intent to reshape its gambling market. Authorities aim to build a system defined by strict regulation, inter-agency collaboration, and consistent enforcement against fraud and unlicensed operators.
