Lithuania looks set to introduce physical cards for gamblers in an effort to better monitor player activity and prevent the manifestation of addiction taking hold in its society.
The measure, announced by Lithuania’s Ministry of Finance, will mandate that all bettors carry a physical identification card. It would allow regulators to track deposits and winnings across multiple operators, with the goal of improving accountability and monitoring player behavior.
Reducing access to gambling is the aim, says minister
It is the standout policy as part of a sweeping draft amendment to gambling laws that proposes significant changes. The plan would gradually eliminate cash payments in venues, shifting to fully traceable, card-linked transactions. It also expands the authority of regulators to more closely monitor and enforce compliance across both in-person and online gambling operators.
Minister of Finance, Kristupas Vaitiekūnas, said there would be a period of adjustment allowed for the industry to implement the required changes. They said: “A three-year transition period is being set to give gambling operators time to upgrade existing equipment or replace it with systems that comply with non-cash payment requirements from 2029.”
They added: “It strengthens the prevention of problem gambling and ensures that the main objective, reducing access to gambling and its potential harm to health, is actually achieved.”
Several countries have implemented or tested systems requiring gamblers to use dedicated player cards, offering a partial precedent for stricter oversight measures. In New Zealand and Norway, card- or account-based gambling systems link play to individual users to track activity and enforce limits, while South Korea has introduced similar requirements in certain betting sectors.
However, these approaches are typically limited to specific venues or types of gambling, making broader proposals for universal, cross-operator tracking systems significantly more expansive than most existing models.
Recent global trend of improving gambling safety sustainability
The prevention of gambling addiction is a hot topic for international governments at the moment, with Australia and Ukraine introducing new policies aimed at protecting vulnerable communities.
In Australia, a raft of new policy changes include strict limits on advertising and new consumer protections. TV gambling ads would be capped at three per hour between 6 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. and banned during live sports in that window, while radio ads would be barred during school commute hours. Digital ads would only be shown to logged-in adults with opt-out options, and the use of celebrities or athletes in promotions would be prohibited.
The laws also target sports and online betting, banning gambling ads in stadiums, on uniforms and in “odds-style” promotions, while outlawing certain online lottery-style games and strengthening enforcement against offshore operators. Authorities also plan to bolster the BetStop self-exclusion system and expand financial counseling services for people affected by gambling harm.
In Ukraine, they are moving to curb gambling harm among its armed forces by banning military personnel from accessing betting platforms during martial law. Under the plan, operators must verify users against national self-exclusion lists and a database of active service members, denying access where required while keeping personal details hidden to protect privacy.
The policy is being rolled out by PlayCity, which has also launched an upgraded national self-exclusion register covering about 12,000 people and strengthened compliance requirements for operators. The regulator recently revoked the license of lottery operator Patriot over ownership concerns, as part of a broader crackdown on the sector.
Officials say the reforms aim to tighten oversight and protect vulnerable groups, even as some critics warn the military-focused restrictions may go too far.
Policy changes come as a European MP calls for a continent-wide gambling tax
In February this year, Victor Negrescu, a vice-president of the European Parliament, proposed an EU-wide tax on online gambling operators to fund education and youth programs. Backed by more than 20 lawmakers, the measure forms part of discussions on the bloc’s future long-term budget.
The plan targets a cross-border digital industry that benefits from the EU single market but faces uneven regulation and taxation across member states. Negrescu said a coordinated approach would create a fairer system while avoiding additional burdens on national budgets or taxpayers.
He estimates the levy could raise between €2 billion and €4 billion annually, potentially generating up to €28 billion over the EU’s budget cycle. The funds would be directed toward education, skills training and broader social initiatives.
The proposal also calls for stronger enforcement against illegal gambling platforms and measures to protect consumers, including minors, with part of the revenue earmarked for addiction prevention, treatment and mental health services.
