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Gambling Games in Croatia
Croatian players mostly choose classic slots by Greentube and EGT, which are widespread in slot clubs and at licensed online casinos. In NeonSlots.com free-play statistics for Croatia the most played games are 40 Burning Hot 6 Reels by EGT, Katana, Sizzling Hot 6 Extra Gold, Book of Ra Deluxe 6 and Beetle Mania Deluxe by Greentube, followed by Christmas Carol Megaways by Pragmatic Play and Cash Crab by Amatic. The online casinos with the most visitors that hold a Croatian licence include SuperSport, PSK (Prva Sportska Kladionica), Admiral, Rizk, Germania, Hrvatska Lutrija, Arena Casino and Senator.
Gambling Legislation
Gambling in Croatia is regulated by the Games of Chance Act (Zakon o igrama na sreću), first published in 2009 (NN 87/09) and last amended in 2025 (NN 72/25, in force since 1 May 2025). This legislative act subdivides the games allowed in the country into 4 different categories: Lotteries and bingo, Casino games, Sport bets and Slot machines. The gambling industry in Croatia is regulated by the Ministry of Finance, and the rights to organise games are granted by a decision of the Government of Croatia on the proposal of the Ministry. A gambling operator can obtain the license once the application has been approved and the tender won. Yet at the same time the focus is on how much the profits of the company can bring to the state budget. If the government decides in favour of the operator, the operator is invited to sign the contract on the right to organise games within the next 60 days.
The 2025 amendments tightened the rules on responsible gambling. Advertising of games of chance on the internet, radio and television is banned between 6:00 and 23:00 and in print media (with exceptions for low-risk lottery games and the operators' own websites), advertising of bonuses and free spins outside the operators' websites is prohibited, celebrities may not appear in gambling ads, and social media creators may not promote or live-stream games of chance. Most gaming venues must close on Sundays, and a national register of self-excluded players is run by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.
Gambling Licensing
To participate in a tender, a company must provide the following information: the company's data: addresses of corporate headquarters, list of owners and copies of identification documents, documents that confirm the sufficient volume of the startup capital and authentic records of origin of these funds certificates that show the absence of any criminal records of the persons authorised. If there is a foreign state involved, the applicant must submit the documents that verify the absence of any tax debts in the country where the registration was issued. The company's license can be revoked in case of a bankruptcy or failure to comply with the conditions indicated when the agreement was being signed with the Croatian authorities. The permit is issued for the period of 15 years. Operators must pay the annual fee for the privilege to organise gambling events in the amount of 100,000 EUR for each land-based casino and 600,000 EUR for online casinos (amounts have been set in euros since Croatia adopted the euro in 2023), plus a monthly fee of 15% of casino revenue. These are the factors that can serve as the reason for any premature termination of the contract:
- Providing false information during the application process
- Violation of provisions indicated in the agreement
- Failure to comply with technical requirements
- Commencing the operations prior to the dates indicated by the Ministry of Finance
- Absence of any signs of company's operations within the timeframe indicated
- Absence of the bank guarantee of the appropriate volume
- Change in the company's structure with no permission obtained by the Ministry of Finance
At the end of each year the company must present its business plan for the next year. No later that the 20th day of each month the operator must produce a report about the operations conducted throughout the previous month. The minimum authorised capital for a casino operator is 530,891.23 EUR. The amount of the minimum bank guarantee is 199,084.21 EUR for each land-based casino and 398,168.43 EUR for online casinos. These are the types of gambling that are subject to licensing: Lotteries, Bingo, Casino card games and table games, Slot machines and Bets on sporting events. Land-based establishments must monitor the visitors. Access will only be granted to adults when a personal identification has been produced. People in uniforms can only enter casinos when they carry out their service duties. The administration has the right to deny entry to the visitors if there are any doubts arising concerning fair play. The restrictions are valid as long as there is a reason to assume that gambling entertainment inflicts systematic financial harm to the player. Casino employees must have permits that confirm their professional qualifications.
Along with the casinos, operations of gambling halls with slot machines are allowed in Croatia as well. A company that deals with this type of gaming business must impose restrictions on underaged players and not allow them to enter. Slot machines can be placed on specially designed premises that have a separate entrance or take up a separate building. To qualify for a permit, the operator must have an authorised capital of no less than 265,445.62 EUR, and a slot club must have at least 100 m² and at least 30 machines. The bank guarantee for the first 30 machines is 39,816.84 EUR, and above that the size of the bank guarantee necessary will depend on the number of slot machines:
- 31 to 60 slots - 66,361.40 EUR
- 61 to 90 - 92,905.97 EUR
- 91 to 120 - 119,450.53 EUR
- 121 to 150 - 145,995.09 EUR
- 151 to 180 - 172,539.65 EUR
- 181 to 210 - 199,084.21 EUR
- 211 to 250 - 265,445.62 EUR
- Over 250 - 663,614.04 EUR
The amount of the annual fee is 2,000 EUR per slot machine. Monthly fee is 25% of the profit. According to the 2010 Regulation on Interactive Online Casinos, it is legal to provide online casino services in Croatia, but only companies that hold the right to run a land-based casino in Croatia can obtain approval for an online casino. All people of full age can play on the websites that feature gambling entertainment. Online games are also provided by a state-run operator called Hrvatska Lutrija, as well as by its subsidiary Prva Sportska Kladionica. The company cooperates with suppliers of gaming software products such as Intralot Interactive and Microgaming. Winnings from lottery games and betting are taxed progressively: 10% up to 1,500 EUR, 15% up to 4,000 EUR, 20% up to 70,000 EUR and 30% above that.
Development of the Gaming Market in Croatia
Gambling industry in Croatia started growing intensely back in 1991, when the Republic proclaimed its independence. Since the government has been positioning the country as a tourist attraction from the very outset, special attention was paid to gambling houses that operated at major hotels. One of the best-known casinos, Casino Mulino at the Mulino Lux Casino Hotel, operates as a hotel complex near Buje in Istria, close to the Slovenian and Italian borders. Lately the players have been showing more interest in sports betting. In 2025, however, the legislation was tightened with strict limits on advertising, Sunday closures and a national self-exclusion register. Since 2013 the Republic has been a member of the European Union, the requirements concerning free access to goods and services registered in the EU apply to Croatia as well. Nevertheless, the Games of Chance Act prohibits foreign operators from organising games in Croatia and bans taking part in foreign games of chance with stakes paid in Croatia. So, Croatian gambling laws give leeway to the players within the licensed market. Regulation of the gambling industry is structured in such a way that it should minimise the harm caused by ludomania (gambling addiction) and contribute to the replenishment of the state budget. Players can choose the games that will suit their taste at licensed operators, which must offer self-exclusion and other responsible gambling tools.
