Lottery games are legal in Iceland under strict regulatory conditions governed by the Lotteries and Tombola Act. A license from a District Commissioner is required to operate a lottery, except when the law stipulates otherwise. Lotteries in which money or quasi-money is played may only be operated in accordance with special provisions in law, such as the University of Iceland lottery and DAS lottery (1).
The Icelandic Parliament has issued gaming licenses to specific organizations, with the main operator being Íslensk Getspá/Getraunir, which specializes in lotto and sports betting based in Reykjavik. The minimum age for participating in any gambling activity, including lotteries, is 18 years. Tickets can be purchased in most shops throughout Iceland, with ticket machines available in some locations (2).
"A licence to operate a lottery may only be granted to an organisation, association or institution registered in the European Economic Area."
Lottery licenses may only be granted to organizations whose purpose is to raise funds for the public good, including social, charitable, cultural, sporting or humanitarian causes. The District Commissioner for the Southern Region licenses lotteries nationwide if ticket sales exceed ISK 2,000,000, while local lotteries below this threshold are licensed by district commissioners in their respective areas (1).
Source:
https://island.is/en/application-for-lottery-license
https://www.gga.org.ge/en/world/62
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
