There were 73 votes in favour and one abstaining. No MPs voted against the draft legislation which sets out a transitional period, with most of the amendments entering into force on 1 July 2025 and others until 1 January 2028.
The amendments are aimed at prohibiting the dissemination of information about a gambling company’s sponsorship of public events, activities, natural and legal persons of any kind.
Conservative MP Mindaugas Lingė, chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance, said that the losses suffered by the media due to the advertising ban will be partially compensated by public funds.
"Thanks to the Government, we have found a way to compensate for certain losses during the transition period. The budget for the coming year includes EUR 4 million for a media fund which will be used for this purpose. And with that aim in mind, funding has been increased for other areas of the sector, such as broadcasting, cultural, sporting events," the MP, who initiated the law changes, told ELTA.
Once all the amendments to the legislation become effective, gambling advertising will be fully banned in Lithuania, except for cases when the name of a gambling company is displayed on its head office building.