The government of the Republic of Slovakia has been urged to recognise the acceleration of online gambling (particularly online casinos) outpacing land-based gambling segments.
The warning came from Martin Bohoš, Director General of ÚRHH, Slovakia’s Office for the Regulation of Gambling, who filed the monitoring report for 2024 activities to the Vláda.
The report detailed that in 2024, Slovakian gambling grossed a total of €24.2bn, up 14% on the 2023 figure of €21.4bn. Total winnings paid out amounted to €22.8bn, as net gambling losses stood at €1.45bn, up €130m (+9%) on 2023 losses of €1.32bn.
Gambling taxes contributed €347m to Slovakia’s state budget, reflecting a second consecutive year of tax growth of €46m (2022: €251m and 2023: €301m).
Without a doubt, ÚRHH identified the driver for market growth as online casinos, which generated total bets of €12.8bn and winnings of €11.7bn. Online casinos contributed to net losses of €480m.
Online casino activity outstripped the combined metrics of land-based casino venues and gaming halls, which saw total wagers of €8.92bn (€6.14bn in gaming halls and €2.78bn in casinos). The combined losses of land-based gambling segments equalled €480m, matching the online casino contribution.
“Online casinos continue to hold the largest market share, recording a year-over-year increase in revenue of 29.9% to nearly €476m, with contributions to the state budget rising by 35.1% to €126m,” said Martin Bohoš.
Bohoš added that “this significant growth is related to innovations in digital services, changes in consumer behaviour, and effective state regulation.”
ÚRHH’s report highlighted a growing divergence between online and land-based gambling segments. While online casinos experienced double-digit growth, land-based gambling (casinos and gaming halls) showed mixed performance.
Gaming Halls, which are managed as government contracts, recorded total wagers of €6.14bn, with winnings of €5.8bn, leading to net losses of €340m. Despite stable player engagement, gaming halls saw a 5% decrease in contributions to the state budget, amounting to €58.95m.
Land-based casinos generated wagers of €2.78bn, with winnings of €2.64bn and net losses of €140m. Unlike gaming halls, land-based casinos recorded a 26% increase in state contributions, reaching €16.4m.
Sports betting also saw strong performance, with wagers totalling €2.73bn and losses of €310m. State revenues from sports betting grew by 8% to €86.91m, driven by major sporting events such as the 2024 UEFA Championship and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Bohoš warned that while online casino growth has strengthened state revenues, it also presents new regulatory challenges, requiring ÚRHH to upgrade controls on self-exclusion and intervention of vulnerable consumers.
The rise of unlicensed and illegal online platforms remains a significant concern for the regulator. In 2024, ÚRHH added 89 illegal platforms to its blacklist, bringing the total number of blocked platforms to over 820.
“Combating illegal gambling remains a priority for the regulator,” Bohoš stated. “We will continue to strengthen oversight and implement stricter measures to ensure a secure and fair gambling environment for players.”
ÚRHH noted that the challenges reflect consumer changes since the Slovakia liberalised its online gambling market in 2019 with the introduction of the Republika Gambling Act (Act No. 30/2019).
Looking ahead, ÚRHH expects land-based gambling to face continued pressure from local government restrictions and changing consumer habits. Online gambling is forecast to maintain its growth momentum, with further innovation and competition among licensed operators driving market expansion.
“The Slovak gambling market is evolving rapidly,” Bohoš concluded. “Our goal is to maintain a well-regulated market that balances growth with player protection and responsible gambling practices.
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