The Republic of Croatia will begin implementing the measures and protections of a new Gambling Law, to be in full effect by early 2026.
The Sabor of Croatia (parliament) has received a mandate to “Combat Addiction to Games of Chance and Betting” by introducing new player protections, tightening rules on gambling venues, eliminating aggressive advertising and increasing gambling taxes.
The mandate was drafted by the HDZ government in coordination with the Croatian Institute of Public Health and professors from the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation.
The proposed changes carry political significance, as Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has vowed to overhaul Croatia’s gambling laws as part of his third-term mandate, addressing previous failures to tackle gambling addiction — an issue affecting the lives of 40,000 Croats.
Insights from the Institute of Public Health reveal that drastic measures are needed to curb a crisis of gambling disorders impacting Croatia communities. Data shows that 73% of high school students have gambled at least once, with 13% showing signs of gambling-related harm. Furthermore, approximately 5% of the adult population and 6% of young adults suffer from gambling disorders.
New Centralised Controls
The government will prioritise combatting gambling addiction as its primary focus by applying new player protection measures and controls applied to Croatia’s 6,300 gaming halls and 1,300 betting shops.
A key measure will be the implementation of a mandatory player identification system for access to gambling venues and online platforms. This system will serve as a central control mechanism to monitor gambling activity across venues and online licences.
Mirroring other European nations, Croatia will also establish a national self-exclusion scheme by 2026 to protect vulnerable consumers from engaging in gambling activities. The establishment of a new self-exclusion scheme is deemed as a directive to be established in 190 days.
End Aggressive Advertising
The government considers the high coverage of gambling adverts to be a significant factor in the rise of gambling disorders.
As previously sanctioned by PM Plenković, the government will apply a ban on gambling advertisements on television, radio, and media platforms between 6AM and 11PM.
The online advertising campaigns of licensed operators must ensure that gambling adverts are not displayed in any form to underage audiences as Croatian authorities will be allowed to impose direct penalties or suspend advertising.
Gambling adverts will no longer be allowed to feature celebrities, athletes, or social media influencers to promote brands, services or endorsements. The government will review Croatia’s advertising laws to proceed with a steep reduction in the coverage of gambling adverts, including a ban on promotion in public spaces and print media (magazines and newspapers).
The government believes that limiting the visibility of gambling-related advertising will help reduce the normalisation of gambling and protect vulnerable groups from an influence to gamble.
Venues can no longer be a point of failure
The mandate calls for tighter controls on gambling venues, which are deemed a “point of failure” in protecting national consumers.
By 2026, the government will ban the use of self-service betting terminals in restaurants, cafes, and other public venues to reduce the accessibility of gambling.
Croatian municipalities will be ordered to review gambling establishments to ensure that they maintain a minimum distance of 500 metres from educational institutions and religious buildings, and that betting shops are located at least 200 metres away from such establishments.
The directive follows the government’s earlier efforts in 2020 to restrict the spread of gambling venues, which resulted in a reduction in the number of slot machine clubs and casinos. However, with the expiration of hosting rights in 2025, it is estimated that 50–60% of betting shops will not meet the new location requirements and may face closure or relocation.
New Tax System
The new law will introduce a more progressive tax system based on winnings and business scale, with funds directed towards public health and addiction programmes. The current tax framework, in place since 2010, will be replaced with the following tax rates:
- 10% on winnings up to €1,500 ($1,605)
- 15% on winnings from €1,500 to €4,000 ($1,605 to $4,280)
- 20% on winnings from €4,000 to €70,000 ($4,280 to $74,900)
- 30% on winnings over €70,000 ($74,900)
Annual licensing fees for gambling operators will also be increased:
- Land-based casinos from €400,000 to €600,000 ($428,000 – $642,000)
- Online casinos from €265,445 to €398,168 ($284,026 to $426,039)
- Land-based casinos – from €132,722 to €200,000 ($142,012 to $214,000)
Approximately 11% of gambling revenue will be allocated to addiction prevention and treatment, while other funds will support sports, education, civil society development, and social and humanitarian activities.
Government seeks instant response
Early analysis suggests that the new measures could result in a 10–15% reduction in the number of gambling venues across the country. At the same time, increased taxes and fees are projected to generate an additional €50–70m in annual revenue, which will be reinvested into social and public health programmes.
To ensure effective implementation of the new regulations, the government will establish a ‘new dedicated regulatory agency’ to monitoring compliance and conduct of gambling licences (online and land-based).
Gambling operators who fail to meet the new requirements will lose their licences and face multi-million fines.
The Croatian government expects that these reforms will lead to a safer and more regulated gambling market. By reducing the availability and visibility of gambling while increasing the cost of operation, the government aims to curb gambling addiction and protect vulnerable groups from exploitation.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our Telegram channel!
