Serbia actions sweep on gambling venues
Serbia’s municipalities and districts have been instructed to enforce stricter rules on gambling venues following the fast-tracking of amendments to the Law on Games of Chance (2011). These changes aim to enhance customer protection and compliance in arcades, betting shops, and bingo halls.
Authorities across Serbia’s 29 districts and 190 municipalities must now verify that gambling venues meet licensing and customer protection standards. Inspections will focus on ensuring that mandatory age verification measures are in place to prevent minors from gambling.
Venues are also required to display clear warnings about gambling addiction, including information on certified treatment facilities. Additionally, regulations on food and beverages mandate that alcohol served in these venues must have less than 5% alcohol content and cannot be provided to individuals gambling on sports or slot machines.
For arcades and gaming machine venues, compliance includes ensuring proper licensing fees are paid. This entails a 15% base fee calculated on the difference between total wagers and winnings from slot machine games. Sports betting franchises must also pay a 15% fee on sports wagers, with a minimum payment of €1,000 (in dinars) per betting shop.
Local mayors face a July 1 deadline to complete compliance checks and report their findings to the government. This initiative follows concerns raised by Serbia’s State Attorney about the issuance of multiple gambling licenses in rural areas.
The review is being conducted under Serbia’s reformed laws on inspection oversight and administrative procedures, which expand federal oversight. These changes come amid growing calls for a comprehensive overhaul of Serbia’s gambling laws, led by the Green-Left Front (ZLF). In November, the ZLF proposed banning gambling advertising and sponsorships, but these efforts have faced opposition.
President Aleksandar Vučić, serving his third term, has been criticized for his perceived inaction on gambling-related issues. Opposition parties claim that Serbian authorities lack the resources to address the scale of gambling addiction, which a 2023 Public Health Serbia report found affects 30% of youths aged 15-19.
The ZLF accuses Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of prioritizing commercial interests, particularly in partnerships between football clubs and betting companies. The SNS counters that a gambling law review is underway, with proposals being prioritized to align with Serbia’s goal of securing EU membership by the late 2020s.
https://lotterydaily.com/2025/01/27/csr/serbia-sweep-gambling-2025/