Online Casinos Estonia

Are online casinos legal in Estonia?

Estonia is one of the few countries that fully support gambling. The country has even passed several gambling laws. These laws ensure a fair and safe gambling environment.

In Estonia, the government permits both offline and online casinos to operate. In fact, any online casino operator is welcome to set up shop in the country. Gamblers from Estonia can access any online casino they want.

Furthermore, there are absolutely no restrictions on offshore gambling websites. They must, however, hold a local agency license.

Even so, permitted offshore casinos must follow all gambling rules in Estonia. Failure to do this will result in certain penalties.

If you think about it, the penalties ensure only trustworthy and law-abiding operators survive in Estonia. This translates to the safety of all Estonian gamblers.

We’ve mentioned the laws in place on online casinos. Definitely, the future looks bright for online gambling in Estonia.

Particularly in the nation’s capital, Tallinn, online gambling is expanding and snowballing. More players will, as a result, be able to enjoy mobile casino games at their convenience.

Currently, some online casinos in Estonia now offer advanced features such as virtual reality. The experiences of Estonian players have generally improved because of these technologies.

Goblin’s Cave

Right off the bat, we have Goblin’s Cave from Playtech. Playtech is a big name in the iGaming industry. It has its headquarters in Estonia, by the way.

Goblins were the inspiration for the creation of this 3-reel game. The dwarfs are known for hoarding anything shiny they come across. And in this game, there are plenty of riches up for grabs.

Commendably, Playtech nailed it when it comes to the game’s overall aesthetics. Also, the game’s cartoon symbols add a touch of uniqueness.

Goblin’s Cave is a classic slot machine with an RTP of 99.32%. That means you’ll receive big winnings, although they won’t come frequently.

Notably, Goblin’s Cave is a simple slot with 3 rows and 3 paylines. Additionally, its maximum payout potential is 430x.

When it comes to betting ranges, Goblin’s Cave has a pretty broad bet range. You can bet as little as €0.02 and as high as €20. This range is wide enough and affordable for most Estonian gamblers.

The Goblin’s Cave has two bonus features. These are a Hold and Win bonus round, and a bonus feature with soft wins.

This game also has several symbols, including the scatter represented by a lantern. There’s also a wild symbol represented by the goblin.

Nitropolis 4

The flame is maintained and continued in Nitropolis 4 online slot, which picks up where Nitropolis 3 left off. ELK Studios invites you once more to consider what the future might hold.

There are no people in the game, and animals rule pretty much everything.

With an RTP of 94%, Nitropolis 4 is a high-volatility online slot. Its minimum bet is €0.2 while the maximum is €100. This is a wide range that is pocket-friendly for most Estonian gamblers.

Additionally, Nitropolis 4 has 4096 ways to win, 5 reels, and 4-8 rows. Additionally, the game’s maximum win potential is 50000x.

Nitropolis 4 also has a bonus game. To activate it, you must land at least 3 scatter symbols. This comes with free spins depending on the number of scatter symbols.

Notably, the game also has a bonus super game. To activate it, you must land at least one super scatter symbol. In the bonus super game, there’s an increase in the number of paylines and rows.

That said, you can take advantage of the game’s features immediately. To do this, simply use the X-iter mode, which comes with several options.

Other features available in the games include Nitro Booster, Multipliers, and Reels. The Big Symbols Feature and Avalanche are also available.

Nitropolis 4 Free Play!

Starburst

The Starburst slot game is not a new name in the casino industry. NetEnt released the game in 2012. It’s now among the most played titles in Estonian online casinos.

This game is situated in a galaxy with many jewels of various colors. The graphics are stunningly clear and vivid. Also, the game’s soundtrack, which plays a beautiful melody in the background, is absolutely appropriate for this space-themed title.

The game has 5 reels, 3 rows, and 10 paylines. Additionally, the minimum bet per line is €0.01. You can’t, however, place a bet of more than €1.

Starburst comes with an RTP of 96.09%, which is pretty high. Also, its maximum potential payout is 50000x.

Notably, the gameplay does not have a free spins element. Despite the lack of scatter symbols and a free spins round, there are still several features available. They include the wild expands, re-spins, and Starburst wild features.

A starburst gem with several colors and a white center represents the Starburst Wild symbol. It only appears on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th reels and can take the place of other symbols.

Moreover, it can expand over a reel.

Noteworthy, Starburst has a win-both-ways feature, meaning it does not only pay from left to right. It also pays in reverse, from right to left.

Bingo Loto

Bingo Loto is a traditional Estonian lottery game in which 25 boxes of 5×5 might result in a prize. Ten participants have the opportunity to appear on the Bingo Loto TV show every Wednesday. Notably, the minimum jackpot is 100,000 euros.

Roulette

The game of roulette has been around for centuries, and it seems to gain popularity by the day. Like some casino games, roulette has several variants. Estonian players can choose to play French, American, or European roulette.

Blackjack

The game of Blackjack has been around since the 1700s. It’s a highly popular game that’s available in most land-based and remote casinos in Estonia. Again, this table game comes with several variants, including American and European Blackjack.

Estonia sports betting sites

In Estonia, gambling is among the most significant aspects of people’s social lives. Estonians love betting on football, basketball, ice hockey, and basketball.

There are currently dozens of online bookies running in the nation. They help fuel a fiercely competitive market.

However, not all of them assure you the best betting experience. That’s why we assess each betting site using the following criteria before recommending them:

• Licensing – We can’t recommend unlicensed betting sites. So, this is the first thing we check. Only betting sites overseen by reputable licensing bodies make it to the list.
• Odds – One feature of betting sites we can’t ignore are the odds. To guarantee you maximum wins, we only choose betting sites with high odds.
• Bonuses – We don’t forget about the bonuses offered by betting sites. That’s why we review all offers, from the welcome bonus to daily and weekly bonuses. We then list only those sites with generous bonuses.
• Payment options – The speed of your deposits and withdrawals really matters. We only go for betting sites that support the fastest withdrawal and deposit options.
• Bet types – We test the bet types as well, including only betting sites with the most types of bets. These include double, single, accumulator, and treble.
• Customer support – The quality of customer support matters a lot when betting online. As such, we consider Estonian betting sites with friendly and professional customer support.

These are just a few of the factors we consider when selecting an Estonian betting site. In a nutshell, we ensure you only play in a safe and unparalleled betting environment.

Here are the top betting websites for Estonian players you should consider:

Trustly

Another popular casino payment method is Trustly. It’s a Swedish payment system that has received wide acclaim from Estonian casino players. The company opened its doors in 2008, by the way.

The reason most people prefer this payment option is its simplicity. When using Trustly, you don’t even need to register for an account. You can make your payments or cash out without the long process of registering for an account.

If you think Trustly is unsafe because it doesn’t need an account, you’re wrong. Trustly is among the safest payment casino options. Besides guaranteeing your anonymity, it uses high-standard encryption technology to protect your financial information.

On top of that, Trustly is one of the fastest payment methods. It processes deposits instantly. Withdrawals, on the other hand, take less than 24 hours.

MiFinity

Like Neteller, Mifinity is an electronic wallet. This payment method has been around for over two decades. It opened its doors in 2002, making it three years younger than Neteller.

Mifinity is a global payment solution available in hundreds of countries. Although its services are unavailable in some countries, Estonia is among the accepted countries.

When it comes to currencies, Mifinity supports over 17 currencies. These include major currencies such as the Euro. That means Estonian gamblers can make payments without having to convert currencies.

As for speed, Mifinity is one of the fastest e-wallets. It processes casino deposits instantly. When cashing out using Mifinity, expect the funds in your account within 24 hours.

Gambling regulator in Estonia

In Estonia, all operators must have an activity license. Additionally, they should have an operating permit.

Notably, the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB) is in charge of granting gambling permits and licenses. That’s because it’s in charge of regulating online and physical gambling in Estonia.

Operating permit

A casino operator must apply for an operating permit after getting an activity licensing. With this kind of authorization, the owner can open a gaming establishment at the address listed on the operating permit. Notably, each game that the operator wishes to provide must have a distinct operating permit.

To apply for a land-based operating permit, here are the ECTB specifics:

• The owner of the casino must possess a permit granted by the municipality where the address on the application is situated
• The respective municipality determines the length of the permit’s validity
• Only casinos that don’t provide services to people excluded from gambling can get a permit

Here are the specifics of getting a remote gaming operating permit:

• Only operators that provide services via electric devices are eligible for this permit
• A single remote gaming license may cover multiple domains
• A toto operating permit is valid for 20 years whereas other games of skills have a 5-year validity

Notably, the 2008 Advertising Act governs the promotion of gambling in Estonia. The Act outlaws all advertisements for casinos and sports betting. The document only permits the promotion of gambling games in the following circumstances:

• On the gambling service provider’s website
• On the grounds of the gambling establishments
• In the airport/port buildings
• Sponsorship disclosure via outdoor advertising
• If a gambler has subscribed and has the option to cancel at any moment, they may get advertisements via phone, email, or post

Remarkably, the only gambling activity protected from the restrictions is the lottery.

Worth mentioning, Estonia has standardized gambling legislation because it is a centralized nation. The only thing a municipality council or city can do is limit the hours that gambling facilities open on its land. A gaming establishment located in proximity to a children’s learning facility may also be prohibited by local councils.

Worth noting, any operator who cannot abide by the rules risks a financial penalty. Also, the casino operator may face a period of incarceration.

Gambling taxes in Estonia

The body in charge of collecting taxes in Estonia is the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. That means casino operators must file their returns to the board.

In Estonia, casino owners have until the fifteenth day of each calendar month to pay the gaming tax. According to the Estonian Tax Board, a calendar month is the taxation period for gambling.

Notably, nine annexes that correspond to the various forms of gaming are included in the gambling tax return. Depending on the type of gaming they host, operators must attach annexes to their tax returns.

Lottery wins are subject to an 18% tax rate for Estonian casino patrons. It’s worth mentioning that the sum for these prizes will be taken out of the source.

Big-win players that partake in sports betting or play online casino games are exempt from taxes. As a result, you’re not required to file your gambling winnings.

Tax rates

Here are some of the gambling tax rates as per the Estonian Tax and Customs Board:

• Gambling machine games – €300/gambling machine and 10% of the money won from gambling machines, minus winnings.
• Table games – €1278.23/gambling table
• Remote gambling – 5% of all bets received
• Commercial lottery – 18% of the prize pool
• Lottery – 18% of the amount from the sale of lottery tickets

New Gambling Act

The government of Estonia introduced the 2009 Gambling Act. This was in response to a significant loss in revenue during the economic crisis of 2007–2008.

Notably, the Estonian gambling sector was treated more kindly under the new laws. The new legislation allowed business owners to apply for licenses and provide their services to Estonian citizens.

Offshore operator restrictions persisted, though, which slowed down the first rollout. These operators were no longer prohibited in 2011.

The government finally permitted offshore operators to get an online gambling license domestically. It made Estonia’s Tax and Customs Board the licensing authority.

It’s worth noting that the Estonian government takes the licensing procedure seriously. It has a strict licensing procedure that sees only the top operators offer their services to Estonians.

Land-based gambling in Estonia

As we mentioned, the 1995 passage of the Gambling Act made casinos in Estonia lawful. That’s because physical casinos fall under the games of chance category.

Remarkably, the 2008 Gambling Act became the primary piece of legislation governing casinos and other forms of gambling in Estonia. This was after it repealed both the previous Gambling and Lotteries Act.

Similar to the 1995 Gambling Act, the 2008 Gambling Act permits slot halls to operate. Thus, players from Estonia can access gaming machines at these establishments.

Worth noting, since the 2010 Gaming Act modification, there has been little of a distinction between slot halls and casinos. That’s because the two should have at least 5 table games. Also, they should operate a minimum of 50 slot machines.

In Estonia, there were over 50 land-based casinos before the global Covid-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, the 2008 financial crisis and the pandemic epidemic both contributed to a sharp decline in their numbers.

Estonian land-based casinos

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is home to most physical casinos. There are also around 35 slot halls in this city.

Additionally, gambling at brick-and-mortar casinos in Estonia’s rural areas is pretty common. The percentages of people who gamble at physical casinos are as follows:

• Middle Estonia – 49%
• West Estonia – 46%
• South Estonia – 44%

The Olympic Entertainment Group (OEG) is the largest casino operator in Estonia. Moreover, it is the biggest casino business in the Baltic region.

Notably, OEG opened its first casino in 1995, the year that casinos received their first licenses. The business currently operates about 40 gambling establishments in Estonia.

Most gambling establishments in Estonia are small. This is with the exception of OEG casinos.

Additionally, most Estonian physical casinos are more like gaming halls that primarily feature slot machines. Only a few of them include sports betting kiosks.

The table below summarizes the top-rated gambling establishments in the country:

Gambling Therapy

As a global service provider, Gambling Therapy provides free emotional support to gambling addicts. It also offers practical help to anyone impacted by compulsive gambling.

It’s an award-winning platform that won the Responsible Gambling Solution Provider of the Year. It received this award at the Global Regulatory Award 2021. This guarantees you’ll be in safe hands.

Remarkably, Gambling Therapy offers text-based multilingual live support. To be specific, it supports 35 languages including the Estonian language.

If you’re a first-timer, Gambling Therapy’s helpline is a good place to start. The counsellors at gambling therapy will hear you out without being judgmental. Moreover, they will answer any queries you may have regarding compulsive gambling.

You can also reach out to gambling counsellor’s via [email protected]. Alternatively, you can reach out to them on Twitter.

Did you know?

• Over 80% of Estonian adults have gambled at least one time in their life.
• When Estonia was under the USSR, gamblers wagered in underground establishments.
• Despite legalizing all forms of gambling, the lottery remains the most popular. Each year, over 500,000 Estonian gamblers buy lottery tickets.