Croatia is set to overhaul its gambling laws, following a pledge by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the new government.
Prime Minister Plenković submitted the Croatian Democratic Union’s (HDZ) draft decree to Parliament, urging ministers to back an urgent reform of the Gambling Act.
Plenković emphasized the need for urgent reforms, highlighting concerns raised by local leaders, city mayors, and municipal leaders about the high and unprotected exposure of gambling to citizens.
Before Croatia’s snap elections in May, opposition leaders criticised Plenković and the HDZ-coalition government for failing to address gambling addiction, which affects over 40,000 Croats.
Croatia established its gambling regime in 2009 under the Republic’s Games of Chance Act, which was updated in 2015 to include new gambling activities. Despite several parliamentary debates on gambling amendments, no decree has been proposed until now.
Addressing Parliament, Plenković said: “Gambling has spread significantly through the digital space, and we must consider its impact on young generations, which is detrimental. We need to influence the reduction of gambling addiction and much better regulate this activity.”
The HDZ’s draft decree aims to strengthen key areas of gambling regulation, including advertising, protecting minors, promoting responsible gambling, self-exclusion, and tougher enforcement and compliance.
Finance Minister Marko Primorac drafted the proposals, which aim to centralize control and monitoring of gambling activities in Croatia.
The HDZ has proposed a strict code on gambling advertising, prohibiting ads in public outdoor spaces and print media.
Croatian media must adopt restrictive controls for gambling ads on TV, radio, and digital platforms. Gambling advertising on TV will be banned from 6 am to 11 pm, except for live sports broadcasts. Online media will be banned from promoting online gambling incentives like bonuses and free bets.
Media owners and gambling advertisers must ensure that marketing campaigns target audiences above 18, and all gambling adverts must carry warnings about addiction and risks.
The HDZ will propose comprehensive measures to prevent Croatian minors from gambling, with exemptions for Hrvatska Lutrija, the national lottery, categorized as low-risk gaming.
Land-based gambling venues will be required to identify all players entering establishments and will be banned from promoting gambling activities outside their venues.
Minister Primorac highlighted the plan to implement a register for self-excluded players, which will be established and maintained by the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ).
The register will allow players, family members, doctors, and social care workers to submit self-exclusion requests, potentially excluding a Croatian citizen from gambling indefinitely. The self-exclusion register must be established by 2026.
A new compliance framework will be introduced, disqualifying licensed operators if they constantly breach regulations. Croatian banks will block payments to all unlicensed operators blacklisted by the government.
Primorac urged ministers to back HDZ’s decree to fast track urgent changes to Croatia’s gambling laws from 2024 onwards. He concluded: “The changes aim to limit the mechanisms of responsible gambling organization, its availability, and the encouragement to participate. This will also lead to a reduction in addiction and its negative consequences, both for the individual and for society as a whole.”
Prime Minister Plenković stated that overhauling gambling will be a key mandate of his third term in office, forming a new government with Croatia DP party as a minority partner.
