Court upholds Daugavpils gambling-hall restrictions

Latvia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that Daugavpils’ restrictions on gambling venues near certain buildings comply with the Constitution, LSM reports. The court said the rules reduce the risk of unplanned visits and gambling addiction while leaving venues free to operate elsewhere in the city.

The municipal rules prohibit gambling halls whose main entrance is less than 150 metres from the nearest entrance to specified buildings. These include apartment blocks and buildings housing educational institutions, municipal offices or social services.

Four gambling operators challenged the rules, arguing that they effectively barred gambling across the city and disproportionately restricted their property rights under Article 105 of the Constitution.

The court said municipalities may designate places where gambling is prohibited, provided they justify the restrictions based on the characteristics of those places. It found that Daugavpils had assessed the purposes of the buildings and the flow of people around them, and that the 150-metre distance was justified.

The court noted that the availability of gambling halls can contribute to addiction. Gambling can harm people’s financial situation and mental health, with consequences for their families. Limiting halls near homes and buildings people frequently visit reduces the chance of entering one on impulse. The possibility that some players may switch to online gambling did not change the court’s conclusion that the restriction helps protect people from gambling’s harmful effects.