Professional gaming as a professional business is relatively new for the Republic of Lithuania, but since 2002 when the first license was awarded to Olympic Casinos, they have proliferated throughout the country. Though most are concentrated in the capital city of Vilnius, there are casinos in the cities of Kaunas, Klaipeda, and Palanga, as well.
At the end of 2005, there were 57 land-based casinos, 142 betting salons, and 1 bingo salon in Lithuania, a growth of 46% over 2004. Income generated in 2005 was about 34.4 million Euros, according to the National Gambling and Gaming Business Association and the State Gaming Control Commission of the Republic of Lithuania.
The top casinos in Lithuania include: Aladdin Casino, Casino Planet, Grand Casino World, Casino Tornado, City Casino, Olympic Casino in the Reval Hotel, Los Patrankos, and Nese Casino.
Casinos in Lithuania offer slot machines, American roulette, poker, and blackjack, and many are open 24 hours. The casinos run from small, modest establishments to big, comfortable, lavish places, just as you find in other gambling meccas like Las Vegas and Monaco, with a comprehensive offering for both dabblers...