Latvian Capital Bans Slots in Historic Area

Sun, Jun 4, 2017

Officials in Riga, the capital of Latvia, have voted to ban slot halls in the city’s historic district with the exception of those located inside luxury hotels. A total of 41 gaming venues will close as a result.

Given five full years to close

City Council members in the Latvian capital of Riga have voted to close down all slot halls in the city’s historic district. The sole exception is gaming venues located inside four- and five-star hotels, reported CalvinAyre.com.

Forty-one slot facilities will have to close as a result of the new measure, including seven run by the Olympic Entertainment Group, but they don’t have to shut down for five years.

Olympic CEO Madis Jääger said Riga is preparing closing resolutions for every gaming hall in the historic area. OEG’s Olympic Voodoo Casino, the company’s flagship in Riga, is not subject to the ban.

Arnis Verzemnieks, consultant to the Latvian Gaming Business Association, says the business district will see less foot traffic due to the ban and it would be difficult for operators of Riga to consider long-term investments in such a punitive environment.

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