RIGA, March 26 (LETA) - The Riga City Council on Wednesday adopted new binding regulations, imposing sweeping restrictions on gambling in the Latvian capital.

The municipality has acknowledged that all currently known gambling halls are located in areas where gambling will be banned, which means that the new rules will close down all gambling halls currently operating in Riga.

The new regulation will prohibit gambling at educational establishments, railway stations, bus stations, airports and other places.

Unlike the previous restrictions, which banned gambling throughout the city, except in four- and five-star hotels, the new rules list places and areas in Riga where gambling will not be allowed.

The rules are based on recommendations from the Constitutional Court and take into account the results of a public consultation held in February this year.

The draft regulation stipulates that gambling will not be allowed on municipal property, in neighborhood centers, in the territory of educational institutions and within 300 meters of them, in railway stations, bus stations, airports and passenger ports and within 500 meters of them, and within 300 meters of public transport stops.

Representatives of the municipality explained that the planned restrictions do not cover the entire territory of the municipality, nor do they affect the right of gambling operators to open and/or expand gambling venues in four- and five-star hotels.

The application of the new restrictions is subject to a transitional period of five years from the adoption of the municipality's decision to revoke the previously issued permits.

According to information provided previously to Riga councilors, there are currently 76 gambling venues operating in Riga. Once the new regulation comes into effect, each gambling venue's compliance with the new rules will have to be assessed.

The Latvian association of licensed gambling operators has already said that it is very likely to appeal the new rules before the Constitutional Court, as the association claims them to be "neither proportional nor lawful".

Six years ago, the Riga City Council decided to abolish 42 gambling halls in the historic center of Riga and its protection zone, making an exception for four- and five-star hotels.