Casino Games in Latvia

Where to Play Casino Games Online

Online Gambling

Gambling is any game where money is involved and winning depends more on luck than skill. Gambling can be divided into three groups: table games, electronic or slot machines and lottery games. Slot machines are usually played by a single player. Lottery-type games are played on a random drawing basis, where different numbers are drawn. Table games include, for example, Blackjack, Baccarat, Poker. Table games are operated by one or more casino dealers.

Online casinos offer games for real money, but they also allow you to try different games for free. There are many different online casinos, each of them offering special features and new games. Sign-up bonuses and other extras are also offered to stand out among competitors.

Why is gambling so exciting? Researchers have concluded that the main reason for this is excitement. Everyone wants to feel that positively thrilling emotion. The popularity of casinos and gambling is most likely due to people’s desire to escape from their daily routine. My advice to all gambling enthusiasts and gamblers is to know how to stop in time and enjoy a quality game within your budget!

Origins of Gambling

Gambling has its origins in ancient history. It is well known that number games were always popular in ancient China, and one of the games we are all familiar with is Keno. Dice games, on the other hand, come from Ancient Rome, where the Ancient Romans used to play dice. The term ‘casino’, which we all know, comes from the Italian and stands for ‘small house’.

The word combination ‘small house’ indicated a place intended for entertainment. The first known casino opened in Venice in 1638. The casino is still open and offers a place for all gamblers to visit – and is definitely worth a visit. Nowadays, casinos are also popular in movies and books. It can be seen on TV shows such as the Latvian show “Super Bingo” or the American show “Wheel of Fortune”.

Lotteries or Draws

Lottery-type games are based on randomly selected numbers. The draws are automatic, so everything is safe and fair. The draw is done by software, so it’s all down to luck. Casino staff may also be involved, but this depends on the type of game. No special knowledge is required to participate in the lottery. The most important part is to read the rules before playing.

I have heard that some people have their own strategy, but these games are based on random chance and there is no basis for choosing the odds. When playing these types of games, you have to keep it simple and just go with the flow. Bingo and Keno belong to this group of games. Roulette can also be added to this list (though it is mostly classified as a table game).

Table Games

This section includes games such as Baccarat, Blackjack and Poker. Games are usually hosted by casino dealers. When playing in a casino, the casino dealer will always be present. On the Internet, games are usually played by a computer instead of a dealer. However in live casino sections the game is played by a real casino dealer. The game is played online and the dealer is dealing the game directly to you!

Casino Games

Casino games are also considered gambling. Casino games are played for winning money and are therefore not allowed for minors. You should also be aware that you are risking money by playing. Gambling sites offer free support – the player can specify the time limit for a game or amount at which they would like to stop.

Online Gambling and Slot Machines

The most common online form of entertainment are slots. To start playing a slot machine, all you need to do is insert coins or make a deposit online and click a button. Pressing the button sets three or more wheels with horizontally arranged symbols in motion. Player wins a prize when the symbols in one line match. Slot machines use random number/symbol systems. Slot machines can be divided into two groups: regular pay and progressive jackpot machines.

Slot machines are mostly played by one player. You just need to read the instructions and memorize the winning combinations. Slot machines are very popular. Nowadays, all slot machine games are provided with colourful graphics and animations. The three most popular slots in Latvia are definitely Book of Ra, Starburst and Book of Dead.

Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular card games in any casino. Every good casino offers Blackjack or a variation of it. The game is quite old, so it’s no wonder that different rules and new types have emerged. The main objective of all Blackjack games is to beat the dealer, and the number of points cannot exceed 21.

The standard game uses one deck of 52 cards. Casinos usually shuffle several decks together, most commonly 6-card decks. Each player must make a bet before the cards are dealt. Bets are made by placing a certain number of chips in front of you. The smallest and largest bets are defined before the game starts. After the bets have been made, the dealer deals one card clockwise to each player and the game begins.

Roulette

Roulette is a game that first appeared in the 18th century. Roulette is a French term meaning “little wheel”. The principle of the game is simple – it all depends on the turn of the wheel. To win this game, luck is required. The three main variations most commonly played are American, European and French roulette. There are different types of bets available when playing roulette.

The main aim of the game is to guess the number on which the ball will stop. The task is simple, but the probability of the ball landing on exactly one of the 37 numbers is very small. There are various roulette calculators and estimation programs available across the internet, but none of them guarantees a win. When playing roulette, you can bet on different colours of pockets, different numbers, etc.

Baccarat

The origins of the game are not well known, but it is known that it became popular in the 19th century in France. However, it is believed that the game first appeared in the 15th century. Baccarat is also one of the many card games. The rules of the game have changed a lot over time, but the basic rules have remained the same. Like Blackjack, the game is played against the dealer.

The main objective of Baccarat is to get closer to nine. Baccarat differs from other casino games in a way that it is possible to lose a hand but win the game at the same time. Before cards are dealt, a player must choose and place a bet on – the banker or the player. Baccarat comes in different variations such as Chemin de Fer, Mini Baccarat, Punto Banco and many others.

Bingo

Bingo is, literally, a game of luck. Players are dealt a game card with numbers on it. The numbers are usually distributed in a 5×5 square. Numbers are drawn and if the drawn numbers match the numbers on the card, the player has to mark the number on their card. The aim is to fill the slip with the drawn numbers before anyone else. Bingo rules may vary.

In Latvia, you can play Bingo by participating in Latloto’s “Superbingo” draws. However, it is much more popular nowadays to play bingo online. This allows you to play at any time of the day and from the comfort of your own home. Online casinos usually offer a higher payout percentage than national lotteries. By logging in, it is possible to determine which variant to play and how much to bet. Simple as that.

Poker

Poker is the trademark of every self-respecting casino and is one of the most popular casino games. There are several different variants of poker, the most popular one being Texas Hold’Em.

Poker is a card game based on betting, creating hands and bidding. Poker has more than 120 variants, but most use a standard 52-card deck. In poker, you play against other players as well as the dealer. When you start the game and the cards are dealt to you, you need to form the best possible hand, and it is worth remembering that an Ace can be either the strongest or the weakest card, depending on the hand. Note that poker is not a game where you rely on luck, therefore you will need to learn the rules, possible hands and strategies to win.

Sportsbook and Sports Betting

Of course, the best online casinos know that players will appreciate an offer that includes not only the best casino games, but also a wide and exciting sportsbook with the best sports bets.

What is Sports Betting?

Sports betting is one of the most common types of gambling, found in almost every online casino in Latvia. Players can place bets on various sports and sporting events. Sports betting is like a marketplace that offers different betting odds on the outcomes of different sporting events. The types of bets may vary from one casino site to another.

When the selected event ends, the sports bets that were won are paid out. Also, the cases in which a bet will be won or lost vary from event to event and sportsbook to sportsbook, so it is always important to read the rules before placing your bets.

Sportsbooks always offer a variety of current events and games available and there is a lot of activity going on. However, there is usually more interest and more bets are placed when it’s the season for particular sports or major competitions – tournaments, European or World Championships or the Olympic Games.

In order for Sportsbook to operate, like any online casino, it needs to be licensed by the Lotteries and Gambling Inspectorate of the Republic of Latvia.

Types of Sports Bets

Simply put, bets can be divided into single, combination and system bets, however, they are usually even more broadly divided and there are a few even more popular sports bets.

Winner Prediction

Predicting the winner is one of the most popular and also the easiest sports bets. You need to predict the winner of the event or, if offered, that the teams will end in a draw.

The team or athlete who is considered the favourite will be given lower odds by the bookmaker, while the opponent will be given higher odds. So, of course, it is always safer to bet on the firm favourites, but you stand a chance of winning more if you wager on the underdog, because you never know – anyone can win.

Over/Under

You have the opportunity to predict the winner and bet on the total number of points scored throughout the game. Usually the total number of points is offered by the betting machine and the player can predict whether the game will score more or less points than the total. Although the introduction of the decimal system does not allow for a draw, other betting systems allow for three possibilities, e.g. less than 3 goals, 3 goals, or more than 3 goals.

Handicap

This is a bet on the difference between the scores in favour of one of the teams, when one of the players or the team is given an advantage in the form of goals or points. This type of bet requires a team or player to win by a certain point difference. For example, if a handicap of 1 is given, this means that the team or player starts the match with a score of 0:1. For the bet to win, the team or player needs to win by at least two points.

Live Bets

Live betting has always been very popular because it is particularly exciting and gives bettors emotions that are not possible with other types of bets. Live sports betting is done during the game, when the action is already underway and you can follow the action yourself.

Long-term Betting or Future Event Betting

Who will win the Championship? Who will be the best player of the tournament? You can predict these and many other long-term outcomes with long-term or Future Sports Betting. Unlike other bets, this usually involves multiple teams and pays out on winning bets after a longer period of time, when all competitions have been completed and the winner known.

Special Stakes

Bookmakers are increasingly starting to offer special bets to differentiate their offers. These are made on events such as the time of the first goal, the number of penalty kicks, etc.

• In fact, these are just some of the sports bets, as you can also predict, for example, bets on the exact outcome, bets on who will score the first goal, bets on the first minutes of the match or the first/second period, etc. Sports betting is indeed a very exciting world, but it also requires knowledge of sporting events and the rules of sports games, as betting is much more of a strategic activity, not so much a game of luck like, for example, slot machines.
• The types of bets also vary from sport to sport and, for example, bets on the NHL may be different from a boxing bet or a football bet.

Casino Bonuses

When it comes to gambling, casino bonuses should definitely be mentioned. Nowadays, the competition in online casinos is so huge that in order to attract new players and retain the existing ones, it is necessary to offer casino bonuses that provide even more entertainment and winning opportunities. When choosing an online casino, this is also one of the aspects that you can take into account and evaluate in order to decide which casino site to join.

Most Popular Casino Bonuses

✅ Welcome Bonus

The Sign-up or Welcome Bonus is a special offer that invites new players to register on the site. This bonus is available only once and can be activated when creating a player account for the first time. Usually, you simply need to register and make a deposit to receive this bonus, in some cases you will also need to enter the relevant bonus code.

✅ Free Spins

No online casino that offers slots games can do without this bonus. Often, free spins come in addition to another bonus, such as a welcome bonus.

✅ No Deposit Casino Bonuses

This special type of bonus allows you to play for real money without risking your funds. However, in order to take full advantage of a no deposit casino bonus, you should carefully read the terms and conditions regarding the limits and wagering requirements.

✅ Cashback

As there is always a chance of losing at online casinos, it is twice as nice to be offered a cashback bonus. After making a deposit and fulfilling the conditions, which are, for example, playing certain games, you will be refunded part of the amount you have invested in your bets. The cashback is calculated as a percentage of the amount deposited, and this can vary from one online casino to another.

✅ VIP Loyalty Program

Contrary to the welcome bonus, which can be acquired just once upon registration, the loyalty program rewards those who have been playing for a longer period of time. Usually, a loyalty program means accumulating points for each game played. The more casino games you play, the more loyalty points you accumulate. And the higher your loyalty level, the more exclusive casino bonuses you can expect.

Please note!

In most cases, a player can only request a bonus withdrawal from his casino account and receive real money after all the requirements for the bonus have been met. That’s why it’s very important to read all the terms and conditions before using any bonus.

Frequently Asked Questions