Lithuania Considers Raising Legal Gambling Age to 21

Lithuania’s parliament, Seimas, is considering a proposal to increase the legal gambling age from 18 to 21. This measure, part of the Seimas’ 2024 agenda, was reported by SBC News and is set to be voted on by ministers later in the year. The proposal aims to encompass both retail and online gambling platforms.

Jurgita Sejonienė, a member of Lithuania’s Homeland Union Party, proposed this change. She believes aligning the gambling age with Lithuania’s stricter gambling laws is necessary. These reforms are part of Lithuania’s effort to tighten gambling regulations.

Under the new proposal, individuals under 21 would not be allowed to enter gambling venues or participate in online gambling. This move follows Lithuania’s policy of prohibiting under-21s from casino gambling, while the legal gambling age for other forms has been 18.

The proposal also mentions the implementation of stricter ID requirements for gambling. These changes have already been observed in Lithuania’s national lottery system. Lottery players must be at least 18, but recent reforms require retailers to conduct rigorous ID checks to ensure compliance with the age limit.

The Seimas is expected to make a decision on whether to adopt these changes by July 2024, following its initial unanimous approval. To put things in perspective, the first steps to regulate Lithuanian gambling already date back to 2013.