Montenegro will develop a “new legal solution for gambling,” as pledged by the Ministry of Finance, tasked with modernising the Law on Games of Chance.
The Ministry has begun consultations with key stakeholders, including the “public, media, state authorities, local communities, and businesses,” to discuss amendments and resolutions.
A new law is required “to establish safe and responsible gambling environments, foster sustainable growth in the gaming sector free from financial crime, and address public health and social concerns associated with gambling.”
The consultation process, which began on October 21 and was extended until November 25 due to high interest, will include a review of stakeholder suggestions to be incorporated into the final draft.
The key objective remains to establish a new legal framework to ensure fair competition among organisers, accompanied by enhanced supervision to enforce compliance with regulations.
Jovana Nišavić, State Secretary for Finance, stated: “Thus, after two decades, Montenegro will have a new legal solution in the field of games of chance, which will include the key pillars, namely the protection of minors and young people, through provisions concerning the limitation of advertising, the distance of betting facilities from schools, and the identification of players both at bookmakers and online betting.”
While the proposed reforms aim to modernise Montenegro’s gambling framework, several concerns have been raised by Montenegro’s gambling sector, emphasising potential concerns and negative impacts for operators and customers.
Of upmost concern, the draft proposes that deposits for online gambling be restricted to payment cards or in-person transactions at retail locations.
The approach will excludes e-banking and mobile banking options, which are commonly used across EU markets and comply with EU payment directives. Glaring limitations risk driving players towards unregulated platforms, ultimately undermining market integrity and reducing government tax revenues—a consequence that will likely become evident over time.
The Ministry of Finance has also been warned against implementing an “unworkable 15% tax charge on customer winnings,” as such stringent measures may lead to a reduction in the number of active operators in Montenegro.
The Negative impacts of direct customer taxes, could decrease the government’s potential tax revenues, which contradicts the stated objective of fostering sustainable economic growth.
Proposed restrictions on advertising to sports-related websites and specific public venues could stifle business opportunities and limit the ability to reach wider audiences. Additionally, these restrictions may conflict with Montenegro’s obligations as an EU candidate country, where similar regulations have been relaxed to encourage regulated industry growth.
A report summarising the public consultation will be published within 15 days of its conclusion. Montenegro’s gambling sector remains committed to working collaboratively with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the final version of the law prioritises player protection, upholds ethical business practices, and fosters a supportive environment for operators, paving the way for a well-regulated and sustainable gambling industry in the country.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our Telegram channel!
