EGBA Complains Against Lithuanian Provider and Calls for Enhanced Measures
EGBA has filed a complaint with the Bank of Lithuania against Walletto for potential payments to illegal operators, highlighting the scale of the issue in Europe.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has officially filed a complaint with the Bank of Lithuania against the payment service Walletto over suspicions of processing payments for illegal online gambling operators. This comes as a result of an EGBA investigation that uncovered vulnerabilities in Europe's payment chain. Test transactions revealed that Walletto’s services may be utilized for deposits on these platforms.
Payment Chain Issues
Illegal operators rely on access to traditional payment methods and card networks. They continue to operate outside of EU legal frameworks, evading oversight and exposing consumers to risks. Such platforms do not provide the protections characteristic of legal operators. Players on these sites lack basic safeguards—from identity verification to responsible gaming tools and anti-money laundering measures. Without effective checks, underage individuals and those with self-restrictions gain access to these sites.
Coordinated Action Needed
Addressing this issue requires joint actions from legislators, gambling regulators, and the financial sector, as well as payment providers. The primary tool is card schemes, which control network rules and have access to transaction data. Payment providers must not process transactions for illegal operators — a principle that demands reinforcement. Regulators should rigorously and consistently enforce existing rules, such as the EU Payment Services Directive.
Maarten Hayer, Secretary General of EGBA, stated: "Payment providers must not process transactions for illegal operators. Our goal is clear: to cut off their access to European consumers."
EGBA will continue to advocate for coordinated action to exclude illegal operators from Europe's online gambling market.
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Татьяна Грекова
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Татьяна Грекова tracks gambling legislation, licensing, and enforcement — from the UKGC, MGA, and Germany's GGL to Spain's DGOJ and the regulatory maps of the CIS and the Americas. The reports answer three questions precisely — what changed, where, and who it affects — with jurisdictions, effective dates, and penalty figures exactly as published. Compliance teams read Татьяна Грекова to catch a rulebook moving before their next board meeting.
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