Estonian Casino and Card Room Gaming

Casino gaming includes casinos and slot halls. There is also gaming on ships that sail between Tallinn and Helsinki.

There is no legal distinction between casino and slots halls; both require the same license type. The Estonian government grants a 10-year license to public or private limited companies that allows them to open several casinos without applying for permission for each separate establishment.

Olympic Casino is the largest casino operator in Estonia.

The casino industry in Estonia has been in decline over the last several years. In 2007 the country had over 170 casinos; that number is now down to just over 60. The decline in the number of casinos is due to a combination of the economic downturn and the set of new tax laws passed in 2009, which increased taxes and regulation, making it harder for smaller operators to stay in business.