The Republic of Croatia is embarking on an overhaul of its gambling framework as the measures and protections of a new Gambling law have been proposed.
This comes after its Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has previously stated that this would take place, as he has emphasized a need for urgent reforms.
As discovered by SBC News, a mandate has been received by parliament to ‘combat addiction to games of chance and betting,’ with the date on the document being ‘March 2025.’
Within the mandate, a number of objectives are listed, including the need to focus on protection for minors and people inclined to addictions, amongst others. This appears to be a top priority throughout the changes.
The new proposal spans different topics including advertising, exclusions, ID, and more. It includes how things are currently run and then proposes a change.
Within it, the changes will introduce a new tax system based on winnings and business scale and annual licensing fees for gambling operators would also see an increase.
One of the strongest changes is one that has already started to be implemented, with gambling promotions now banned in public spaces and print media. For digital and broadcast advertising, there are now new and more restrictive guidelines.
Is gambling popular in Croatia?
This country, which sits on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, first brought in its gambling regulations in 2009 under the ‘Games of Chance Act.’
It was then updated in 2015, with new gambling activities included. Since then, however, further amendments haven’t been made until what is now being seen – despite the surge in online gambling popularity.
According to Statista, locals have shown a ‘strong’ preference for online gambling over a traditional brick-and-mortar casino with the popularity of mobile gambling increasing.
The reported statistics suggest revenue in the gambling market is projected to reach US $720.42M in 2025.
Featured Image: Credit to Richard Mortel on Flickr
