Slots
Roulette
Cards
Videopoker
Blackjack
Live Roulette
Slots
Roulette
Cards
Videopoker
Blackjack
Live Roulette
Gambling Games in Serbia
Currently, online gambling in Serbia is actively developing. Most online players use domestic licensed operators such as MozzartBet, MaxBet, Soccerbet, Admiralbet, Meridianbet, Superbet, WWIN, Merkur Xtip and BalkanBet. Originally created as bookmakers, today they have their own online casinos. Operators are engaged in the distribution and promotion of content of international game software manufacturers. Licensed operators accept Serbian dinars and must keep their servers in Serbia, connected to the regulator for real-time monitoring; playing on unlicensed foreign websites is not permitted by law. The most played slots on Serbian sites come from EGT (40 Burning Hot, Flaming Hot, 30 Spicy Fruits, 40 Super Hot), Greentube (Book of Ra Deluxe 6, Book of Ra Magic, Sizzling Hot) and Pragmatic Play, with Igrosoft classics such as Crazy Monkey and Keks and Wazdan titles also popular.
Gambling legislation in Serbia
Gambling business in Serbia has a long history. It was used as a tool for the development of economic and tourist industries after the Second World War, even during the existence of Yugoslavia. The first official law on gambling was adopted by the authorities in the sixties. According to its provisions, gambling was divided into two broad categories: Classic games and Special gambling. Around the same time, the first casino appeared in Belgrade. This law served as the basis for the organisation of gambling until the 1990s. As the crisis came, most of the casinos escaped into the shadow economy. A milestone in the development of the industry began in the early 2000s. In 2001, seeking to restore the legality of the gambling business, the government of Serbia created a new legislative act. According to its provisions, the state received a monopoly on activities of all casinos and gambling halls. In 2004 another transformation in the industry happened. The country's government adopted a new law on gambling. It entered into force in 2005 and divided gambling into 4 categories: Classical gambling - various kinds of lotteries including lotto and bingo, Special gambling: roulette, card games, dice, video slots and additional entertainment in land-based casinos, Online games and Games where participants play against each other. The government still has the monopoly right to support the gambling industry. 5 licenses were issued for opening a casino in Belgrade by 2008. Loutraki hotel-casino became the largest gambling institution. Representatives of the Serbian gambling association JAKTA positively assessed the effect of the Law adopted in 2004. According to the president of the association Mirjana Acimovic, the new provisions had a positive impact on the development of the industry. In particular, before the introduction of this act, slightly more than 5,000 slot machines and about 300 bookmakers were registered, according to official data. After, 78 operators were legalised in the country and they are holders of 15,000 slots and more than 1,700 sweepstakes.
Regulation
The legislative changes considered in 2011 came into force in 2012. As a result, the government of Serbia has lost its monopoly on the organisation of online games. Such a decision allowed the market to be opened for all international operators with appropriate licenses. At the same time, the authorities of the country began an actively struggle against shadowy foreign websites. In just a few months, about 70 portals were blocked. Among them are websites of well-known brands including Bwin, William Hill, and Bet365. According to the government, the negative consequences of this decision are compensated by the appearance of local websites. However, their number is rather limited. The mentioned companies still have the opportunity to develop the Serbian market. This time on legal terms. To obtain the right to provide services, it is necessary to get the appropriate license. An interesting feature of the Serbian legislation was tax system for players. Users who received a win from sports betting had to pay a 15% tax on profits, while wins received in poker or slot machines were not taxed. Today, winnings from special games of chance (casino games, slot machines, betting and online games) at domestic licensed operators are exempt from personal income tax, while lottery winnings above a set threshold are taxed. A new Law on Games of Chance (Official Gazette No. 18/2020) came into force on 11 March 2020, and it was substantially amended in late 2024 (Official Gazette No. 94/2024, in force from 6 January 2025): the amendments introduced electronic licensing, mandatory age and identity verification for online accounts, self-exclusion options, limits on large cash transactions, higher fees and a ban on serving alcohol in betting shops and slot halls. Only persons aged 18 or older may take part in games of chance.
Today, the gambling industry in Serbia is under the control and supervision of several departments: the Games of Chance Administration (GCA), an administrative body within the Ministry of Finance that has worked since 1 March 2019. The department's tasks include issuing licenses, monitoring the activities of all land-based casinos and online gambling portals and Tax Administration under the Ministry of Finance. It also checks compliance with the legislative requirements, audits financial transactions and controls the payment of fees and taxes In addition, the Ministry of Defense directly participates in the control of gambling in Serbia. Gambling equipment and software are verified in certified laboratories, the Military Institute and the Faculty of Mathematics of the University of Belgrade.
Gambling Licenses
According to the Law on Games of Chance, licenses are issued separately for each category of gambling. Documents are generally valid for 10 years. However, the owner of the gambling business pays monthly fees and appropriate taxes. The size of bets depends on the type of activity. In particular, the monthly fee for online games is 15% of the difference between the total value of stakes and winnings (25% for live casino games), with a fixed minimum monthly amount that was raised by the 2024 amendments. Only Serbian companies (legal entities that are registered in the territory of the country) with a capital of at least EUR 250,000 can apply for licenses. In addition, potential licensees must provide a bank guarantee or deposit. When applying for a license, the operator must specify: Name and address of the company, Registration data and Documents confirming the availability of the necessary amount of money, their sources and a number of other documents. Additional information to be provided is detailed descriptions of IT systems, their backup storage, backup recovery procedures in case of an emergency and technical documentation confirming the reliability of the future online casino.
Development of the Gambling Industry in Serbia
Despite the legalisation of the gambling business and opening markets for foreign operators, a large percentage of underground casinos still remain in the country. The fight against illegal institutions continues to this day. But there are also positive changes: the introduction of effective laws and regulations contributes to the advancement of the industry. Many well-known manufacturers show their interest in the development of the country's market. In particular, contracts for the supply of software are concluded with Oryx, Playtech, NetEnt, EGT, Pragmatic Play and others. The emergence of new operators and online gambling portals attracts more and more local players. Given these factors, we can predict the success of the development of gambling in Serbia. Although it might not be as dynamic as we would like.
