Self-restriction popularity is steadily growing in Estonia
The number of Estonian residents who have chosen self-restriction from gambling has grown by 5 thousand in the last 5 years. There are now 19,000 people on the Estonian Tax and Customs Board’s (EMTA) list of online self-restriction options. In percentage terms, the growth has been 36%.
Currently, Estonian players can only self-restrict themselves from gambling through the national HAMPI scheme. Family members or other victims of risky gambling behaviour have no tools to restrict players. In addition, self-restriction can only apply to certain types of games. However, the situation may change in the near future.
Features of self-restriction in Estonia
on the EMTA website includes table games in online and land-based casinos, traditional lottery, sports betting and various types of poker. However, the player still has access to lottery scratch cards.
Once a restriction has been imposed and entered into the register of gambling restrictions, the decision cannot be reversed until the end of the chosen period of 6 to 36 months. Gambling operators licensed in Estonia cannot admit registered players.
New self-exclusion features for Estonians
As we wrote earlier, the Estonian Ministry of Finance is preparing a draft amendment to the by June 2025. The project is being led by Rainer Osanik, head of financial policy and analytics. Speaking to the Economic Affairs Committee, he said that he aims to enact the new legislation in the first half of 2026.
A significant change proposed by the Ministry is the extension of the functionality of Estonia’s national self-exclusion scheme for gambling. The introduction of the amendments will allow family members to request the exclusion of problem gamblers. The Ministry is also considering allowing courts to require restrictions.
Upcoming changes
According to Osanik, the government plans to revise the incentive system for online operators in the direction of responsible gaming. Committee members are concerned about game mechanics and incentives that may provoke risky gambling behaviour. For example, they oppose operators’ claims that gambling is a means to get rich or solve financial problems.
As the committee’s attempt to amend the Advertising Act was unsuccessful, Osanik said that changes to the Gambling Act would be limited to clarifying the rules for advertising gambling in public places and banning misleading promotions. However, Estonian operators will be allowed to sponsor sports teams and events without explicitly mentioning gambling.
This article was first published in Russian on 7 May 2025.
