Online gambling in Estonia
Background
The regulation of online gambling in Estonia has evolved significantly since the country regained independence in 1991. Initially the industry was largely unregulated, leading to the proliferation of various unlicensed operators.
In response to the need for a more structured and secure gambling environment, the Estonian government introduced the Gambling Act in 1995, which primarily focused on land-based gambling.
Recognising the growth and potential of online gambling, Estonia amended its Gambling Act in 2008, with the new regulations coming into effect in 2010. These amendments aimed to create a comprehensive framework for regulating online gambling, ensuring consumer protection, and generating tax revenue.
Current Regulations
Under the amended Gambling Act of 2008, the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB) serves as the primary regulatory authority.
Operators wishing to offer online gambling services in Estonia must comply with the ETCB’s two-tier licensing system consisting of an activity license and an operating permit. The ETCB makes efforts to block Estonian resident access to the websites of unlicensed operators. There were over 1,800 sites on their list of blocked domains in 2024.
The activity license grants the right to conduct gambling business operations. It is broad and covers the organisational aspects, ensuring the operator is fit to run a gambling enterprise. It is valid indefinitely but subject to regulatory compliance (ie it can be revoked).
The operating permit grants the right to offer specific gambling products to the public. It is more focused on individual gambling activities, ensuring the games meet technical and fairness standards and valid for a set period and requires periodic renewal.
The licensing system allows for the provision of a very broad range of remote gambling products to Estonian residents, including:
- Online slots: virtual slot machines with random number generators (RNGs).
- Online table games: online versions of classic casino games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and craps.
- Live casino games: live dealer games streamed in real-time, offering an interactive casino experience.
- Online poker: various formats of peer to peer online poker, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and other popular variants.
- Sports betting: fixed-odds betting on a wide range of sports, including football, basketball, tennis, and more
- Live betting: real-time betting during the course of a sports event.
- Esports betting: betting on professional esports competitions.
- Draw-based lotteries: traditional lottery games with periodic draws.
- Instant win games: games that provide immediate results, such as online scratch cards.
- Skill-based competitions: games where the outcome is primarily determined by the player’s skill, knowledge, or expertise.
In addition to online casino operators, licensing extends to games providers, including live dealer. Tallinn Estonia has been home to a number of live dealer studio operations. Stars Group (formerly Amaya) opened a studio in 2013 and Live88 (formerly Bombay Live) began streaming live games from within Tallinn’s Bombay Hotel more recently.
Major Operators
OlyBet, operated by Tallinn Stock Exchange listed Olympic Entertainment Group (OEG), is one of the biggest names in gambling in Estonia. They offer a full suite of online gambling products, in addition to their 125 land-based casinos and 33 betting shops in the region.
Major international operators licensed in Estonia include bet365, Unibet and Betsson Group.
Best live casinos for Estonian players
The below casinos offer a comprehensive range of live dealer games, and are licensed by ETCB to accept Estonian players.
