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Billie Noble
Author Guarantor: Billie Noble Last updated: 20 February 2021

When Estonia was still part of the Soviet Union, all types of gambling activities were prohibited. Even so, illegal casinos still operate, but the gambling history dates back to 1994 - 1995 when the First Lottery Act of 1994 and the First Gambling Act of 1995 went into effect. 

The capital Tallinn has more casinos than any other town in Estonia. As of September 2010, there are 33 casinos in Tallinn. This is three times less than in 2008 when 91 gambling venues were active in the city. The leading cause was the consequences of the crisis and the passage of the new gambling law in 2008.

Playing at the best online casino sites in Estonia is much easier than ever. Let's take a look at our top online casinos on the market now!

Gambling Laws Development in Estonia

Estonia started imposing regulations on online games in 2010, and online gambling became legal. The leading cause of this is in the aftermath of the world crisis from 2008 to 2009. The country's economy has gone down, so online gambling has become a new source of income.

From January 2010, only local websites are allowed to offer their gambling services online. In January 2011, this country opened its gambling market to foreign operators, but on the condition that they received a license from the government. Along with the legalization of the market, the authority began blocking unlicensed gambling sites from offering their services to citizens.

Before the new law went into effect, two primary rules were used in the country, the Gambling Act of 1995 and the Lottery Act 1994. These two laws were judged to be inadequate due to the rapid development of technology in the gambling industry. In particular, online gambling services are still unregulated.

The Gambling Act of 1995 introduced four types of gambling: games of chance, games of skill, totalisators, and betting. Under this Act, to provide gambling services, all operators must have a license to operate. The operating permit is issued for 5 years and is intended to indicate the gambling site’s location.

The new Gambling Act has repealed the previous two laws, but most main propositions remain unchanged. The 4 gambling categories listed in the Gambling Act 1995 are also described as the main types of gambling in the new Act.

Currently, licensing of gambling and lottery operations is the responsibility of the Estonian Tax and Customs Department.

For players from this country, an 18% tax applies to all lottery winnings. For these winnings, the amount will be deducted from the source. Players that win big by playing online casino games or participating in sports betting are exempt from tax. Therefore, players are under no obligation to report their winnings or pay any taxes on such an amount.

For licensed operators, things don't seem so easy. All operators, both online and on-land, pay taxes on their net profit and a monthly fee on each machine they own.

Gambling History and Events in Estonia

Estonia is one of the more progressive-minded countries when it comes to gambling. The country gained independence in 1991 but was annexed to the Soviet Union until 1994. When the Russian soldiers finally left the country, things began to change. One of the first things that apply was strict Soviet law.

The first part of the gambling law was the Lottery Act of 1994, followed by the Gambling Act of 1995. These laws make gambling legal. Since these laws were enacted, the country has done nothing but liberalize the gambling market. Because of this, the gambling industry was able to thrive.

After losing a lot of revenue from 2007 to 2008, the Estonian government enacted the Gambling Act in 2009. It was thought that there would be a reaction from gamblers. The new law, even more, is more welcome to the gambling industry. The new law makes it possible for operators to obtain licenses and deliver products to locals.

However, there are still some limitations for foreign operators, making the initial rollout relatively slow. In 2011, the ban on foreign operators was lifted, and they were finally allowed to obtain a local online gambling license. The country has strict rules in the licensing process and does everything possible to ensure that only the most reputable online casinos are licensed. Thanks to that, gambling enthusiasts can make sure that gambling activities take place safely and securely in these online casinos in Estonia.

Payment Methods in Estonia Online Casinos

When it comes to deposits and withdrawals from online casinos in Estonia, gamblers can choose secure and secure payment methods. In general, as long as the selected Estonian online casino gamblers have a high reputation, payments will be processed securely, regardless of the chosen deposit method. The majority of Estonian online casinos do not support the PayPal payment method. Gamblers can choose any of the payment methods listed below:

  • VISA;
  • Master Card;
  • Skrill;
  • Neteller;
  • Paysafecard;
  • Bitcoin;
  • Neosurf;
  • Trustpay;
  • And more.