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The Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority has handed Top Sport UAB three separate fines totalling €55,000 in the space of just four days.
The first fine of €25,000 was announced by the gambling regulator on June 5, after an investigation found a minor was allowed to enter one of the operator's gambling establishments and place bets.
Additionally, the operator failed to check the identity of the minor and two other people who were permitted entry to a slot machine area, which also failed to display a gambling addiction warning notice.
Just a day later on June 6, the regulator issued a €15,000 fine to the Lithuania-based operator for failing to comply with the technical requirements for its live remote roulette table games available on mobile phones and not possessing the necessary certificate issued by an accredited institution.
Top Sport was also issued a warning of the possible suspension of its licence, obligating the operator to address the violation by July 1, 2023.
On June 9, 2023, the gaming authority imposed a further €15,000 financial penalty on Top Sport after an investigation found the operator allowed two players to top up their accounts with cards that did not belong to them.
All of the decisions announced by the gambling regulator are not final and can be appealed.
The Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority has issued Top Sport several other fines over the past year.
On January 2, 2023, a €15,000 penalty was imposed for the improper installation of digital video recording systems at its betting points in Lithuania, which led to some images being blurry or unclear.
Additionally, the operator was found to have failed to save video recordings related to an inspection performed by the regulator, according to an announcement on January 2.
In September 2022, the regulator similarly fined Top Sport €15,000 for the improper installation of digital video recording systems at its betting points.
In May 2022, the Lithuanian authority handed out its biggest fine to Top Sport of €25,000 for violating provisions of the law that prohibit the promotion of gambling.
Then, in November 2022, Top Sport UAB was fined €15,000 for accepting an online customer from outside Lithuania.
Speaking with VIXIO GamblingCompliance on January 27, 2023, Skirmantė Paukštienė, a chief specialist at the Lithuania Gaming Control Authority, said when it comes to licence suspensions “it is important to say that the risk to lose a licence depends not on the number of violations”.
Instead, Paukštienė said a licence can be revoked, “if the company, which is warned about a possible suspension of a licence to operate gaming will not eliminate the specified violation during the established period.”
