Gambling restriction in Estonia: HAMPI, e-MTA and removal rules

Which gambling types can be restricted

EMTA says a person can set restrictions for games of chance, toto or sports betting, and classical lotteries. The restriction system does not cover instant lotteries such as scratch cards.

A person can place a restriction only on themselves. A family member or friend cannot submit a HAMPI restriction on somebody else's behalf.

The fastest route is through e-MTA

EMTA describes e-MTA as the easiest and fastest route. In the service, open Registers and inquiries, then Registration, then the registration of gambling restrictions.

A restriction submitted in e-MTA takes effect no later than the day after the application. Applications filed at an EMTA service bureau or through a gambling location can take up to two working days under the published process.

• Sign in to e-MTA
• Open Registers and inquiries
• Choose Registration
• Open registration of gambling restrictions

You choose a 6–36 month minimum period

EMTA describes the restriction itself as without a fixed end date, but the person chooses a period from 6 to 36 months when setting it. Reaching that date does not automatically remove the restriction.

The chosen period defines the earliest point at which the person may apply to be removed from the list. Until a separate removal request is processed, the restriction remains in place.

How removal works after the chosen period

Removal can be requested only after the period selected in the original application has expired. A separate removal application can then be filed through e-MTA or at an EMTA service bureau.

EMTA says a removal request made through e-MTA is completed no later than the following day. A service-bureau request can take until the second working day following submission.

Closing one casino account is not the same thing

Closing an account or using a site-specific break affects one operator. HAMPI is a national register, and Estonia-authorised operators are required to check whether the person has a restriction for the relevant gambling type before allowing play.

That makes HAMPI different from a single-site deposit limit, cooling-off period or account closure. For someone who wants a restriction across Estonia's authorised market, the register is the broader control.

What if a restriction should be active but a site still allows play

First check e-MTA to confirm that the restriction is registered and which gambling category it covers. Record the operator, exact domain and date, and avoid making further bets while the status is being clarified.

EMTA's reporting-and-access guidance states that operators authorised in Estonia must check HAMPI and ensure that a person with a valid restriction is not allowed to play the restricted games.