Online Casinos in Estonia – All You Need to Know

  • 2022-06-07

Are you a new player looking for the best casinos in Estonia? Or maybe an experienced gambler looking to try playing online for a change? Here is all you’ll need to start playing online casino games in Estonia.

With a strong regulatory presence and a rapidly growing IT sector, the Baltic countries are a sort of hub for online gambling in Europe. In this article, we’ll try to answer some big questions you might want answered before you dive into the hobby.

How Does Online Gambling Work in Estonia?

Quite smoothly, actually. Unlike many other countries in Europe, Estonia boasts clearly defined regulations that help people gamble online legally. We’ll get to the legislation later – for now, let’s discuss the basics.

All you need to gamble online in Estonia is a legal online casino. There are many casino reviews and ratings online which can help you make the right choice. Better yet – a full list of all licensed gambling operators in Estonia can be found on the Estonian Tax and Customs Board website. This includes online casinos and betting sites, lotteries, land-based casinos, and even casino cruise ships.

Once you register at a site you like, all you need to do is deposit some money and enjoy. Being part of the EU helps as far as the former is concerned. Not only do Estonians have access to dozens of casino payment options, but pretty much all of them accept Euros. 

What Games Can I Play?

Pretty much any classic casino game can be enjoyed in Estonian online casinos. This includes poker, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat – all of which have proven to be quite popular in the Baltic. Moreover, the growing live casino vertical has a few surprises in store for those willing to try something new.

Unsurprisingly, however, slots are a big hit in every casino as well. You can find hundreds of them on top Estonian casino sites, including offers by dozens of the world’s finest casino software providers. 

Speaking of which, Playtech is a world-leading casino game maker, and it was founded in Tartu. Their products are available in almost every major casino these days. The full Playtech portfolio ranges from complex live casino game shows to some of the best slots online. Top Playtech slots are industry leaders in terms of innovation, scalability, and profitability.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Estonia?

Yes, online gambling is legal but heavily regulated in Estonia. This article would be rather short if it wasn’t, would it?

Estonian gambling laws are short, simple, and incredibly effective at what they do. In short, any company can apply for a license as long as they go through the proper channels. The Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB) is responsible for licensing and regulating the gambling market.

The beauty of Estonian gambling laws is that they cover everything one could want, both online and off. Games of chance, skill, sports betting, and tote betting are all covered by the Estonian Gambling Act.

The one exception to the above rules are lotteries. A state-owned lottery company has exclusive rights to holding country-wide lotteries.

Online gambling regulations in Estonia are especially interesting and are the main reason behind the current boom of the industry in the country. In short, Estonia is one of the few countries in the world that accepts offshore companies. Moreover, foreign players are also acceptable and covered by the regulations.

It’s one of the most liberal systems in the world as far as countries that actually allow remote gambling go. And it helps that it’s clearly worded, concise, and inclusive. You can find more details here

How Many Casinos Are in Estonia?

Estonia is a relatively small country, but the gambling services available are proportional to its population. In short, you can gamble in 10 cities across the country with a total of 49 legal establishments. 

That said, many of these can only be described as slots parlors with no real casino floors or tables. Several are poker rooms, with Tallinn, in particular, boasting a lively poker scene.

Most are owned by a handful of big brands. Olympic springs to mind first and foremost as the biggest player in the Baltic countries.

As far as Estonian online casinos are concerned, there’s a lot more. Around 25 different operators are licensed to own and operate remote gambling sites in Estonia. However, every operator can operate multiple sites and brands – and many do. That makes the exact number of online casinos available difficult to measure. Especially if you factor in offshore companies.

That wraps up the most important information about online casinos in Estonia. We hope you found what you were looking for, and good luck in the next round!