Estonia Gambling License

In Estonia, gaming companies are controlled by three different bodies:

1. EMTA National Oversight
2. The Agency for Consumer Protection and Technical Supervision supervises the observance of consumer rights and in the field of advertising.
3. The Money Laundering Data Bureau supervises money laundering.

In order for casinos to offer gambling in Estonia and Estonians, casinos must first apply for a gambling license and then for an organizational license at the Estonian Tax and Customs Board.

The European Union has agreed requirements for many things, the same in all countries. However, this does not include the organization of gambling.

Each EU country has its own rules for gambling, and they are very different from country to country.

To obtain a gambling license in the Tax and Customs Department, different categories of games have different requirements.

1. Gambling

Gambling is a game that takes place on a game table or slot machine in which electronic, mechanical or electromechanical devices, specially made or adapted for this purpose, are necessary for determining the results, as well as for their organization. Or you need the help of the game operator (dealer).

There are also lottery tournaments and jackpot games. To obtain a gambling license, the gambling organizer (joint-stock company or limited partnership) must have at least 1,000,000 euros

in the authorized or equity capital.

1. Sports betting

To apply for a sports betting license, the company’s authorized capital must be at least 130,000 euros.

1. Dexterity Game

Dexterity is a game that depends largely on a player’s skills, knowledge, or physical dexterity and is played with a mechanical or electronic device.

To organize a game of dexterity, the authorized capital of the company must be at least 25,000 euros.

Requirements for Gambling Operators

In addition to the above, all gambling organizers are also required to:

• The gambling operator must be a trusted legal entity, and gambling must be the only activity of the company.
• The owners or members of the management bodies of the organization organizing gambling may not include persons previously prosecuted, Gambling without a valid license to operate or who have lost a license to operate in connection with a violation of laws. Nor may persons who have caused the insolvency of a society be included in the administration.
• Before issuing a gambling license, the applicant’s tax conduct for the previous three years is also checked and the documents submitted are correct and the applicant’s reliability is checked.

To apply for a gambling license in Estonia you need:

• Provide all necessary data and documents on the applicant’s board and board members
• Provide information about the auditor of the applicant of the business license
• Provide a complete list of shareholders or shareholders of the company and more information about these shares
• You can submit an application after you have digitally signed emta@emta.ee or hasart@emta.ee. You can do it by mail if you wish.
• The State duty must also be paid before the application is submitted.

State fee for the submission of an application for a gaming license

Before submitting an application for a gaming license, you must pay the state fee, the amount of the state fee is depending on the category of the game:

• gambling organization – 47,940 euros
• organizing a game of dexterity – 3200 euros
• toto organization – 31,960 euros

This state duty is used to consider the application for a license, and if the review does not lead to the issuance of a gambling license, the refund of the state duty is unlikely to be carried out.

As a rule, the Tax and Customs Board sends an initial response within three working days.

The decision to license the gambling business is taken no later than four months after receipt of all the necessary documents. But not later than six months after receipt of the initial application for permission to operate.

Since the adoption of the Gambling Act in 2009, only casinos authorized by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board can operate in Estonia.

Other casinos may not operate in Estonia or offer services to Estonian citizens.

Blocked Gambling Providers

EMTA constantly blocks access to those gambling sites that are available in Estonia, but do not have the necessary permission to organize gambling.

Pages offering gambling are blocked in Estonia with the help of Internet providers. This means that these pages cannot be accessed from an Estonian IP address.

In order to organize and offer online gambling to Estonian residents, the service provider needs to obtain two different licenses. First, a company needs a license that proves it’s operating legally in the country. This license is valid for five years. The second license gives the provider the right to gamble in the country and is valid for ten years.

Gambling and gaming providers who wish to work in Estonia must obtain a gambling license. Regardless of whether the operator is from the European Union or not, he must obtain a license. There are special requirements for obtaining this license.

Service providers wishing to purchase a gambling license in Estonia must provide documentary proof of their fixed capital, which must be at least one million euros. They are also expected to provide written evidence of misconduct in the gambling business and no criminal record.

Also, the gambling company must comply with the laws of Estonia and undertake to engage in gambling only within the country. The gambling license fee is EUR 50,000 and is not transferable.

The Estonian gaming industry is open to global gambling providers, but to do this, service providers must obtain an operator license before offering services in their field. Gambling providers without a government license are blocked by the ISP. As for games, all games offered by a licensed gaming platform are available in Estonia – there are no restrictions on the type of game people can bet on. Some of the popular games available on licensed gaming platforms include poker, lotteries, sports betting, and horse racing, among others.