The Republic of Croatia will begin implementing the measures and protections of a new Gambling Law, to be in full effect by early 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sabor of Croatia (parliament) has received a mandate to \u201cCombat Addiction to Games of Chance and Betting\u201d <\/strong>by introducing new player protections, tightening rules on gambling venues, eliminating aggressive advertising and increasing gambling taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The proposed changes carry political significance, as Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi\u0107 <\/strong>has vowed to overhaul Croatia\u2019s gambling laws as part of his third-term mandate, addressing previous failures to tackle gambling addiction \u2014 an issue affecting the lives of 40,000 Croats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Centralised Controls<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The government will prioritise combatting gambling addiction as its primary focus by applying new player protection measures and controls applied to Croatia\u2019s 6,300 gaming halls and 1,300 betting shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n End Aggressive Advertising<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The government considers the high coverage of gambling adverts to be a significant factor in the rise of gambling disorders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As previously sanctioned by PM Plenkovi\u0107, the government will apply a ban on gambling advertisements on television, radio, and media platforms between 6AM and 11PM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Venues can no longer be a point of failure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The mandate calls for tighter controls on gambling venues, which are deemed a \u201cpoint of failure\u201d in protecting national consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The directive follows the government\u2019s 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\u201360% of betting shops will not meet the new location requirements and may face closure or relocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Tax System <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Annual licensing fees for gambling operators will also be increased:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n