Slovakia is a land locked country located in the central part of Europe and sharing its borders with Ukraine, Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria and Poland. The legal framework of gambling has changed over and over again, especially with the development in the field of internet gambling. This article focuses on the legislation of Slovakia regarding gambling, especially for Slovakia bookmakers and sports betting, including the evolution, laws, and authorities along with taxation implications.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
History of Slovakia Bookmakers Gambling Laws
This paper aims at presenting the current state of gambling legislation in Slovakia and at the same time analyzing the evolution of the legislation. At first, the laws regulating gambling in the country were rather weak and did not meet the challenges of the rapidly developing sphere of online gambling. This necessity was stressed by the fact that unlicensed gambling sites have started to target Slovak customers.
Key Legislative Milestones
2005: The first Slovak gambling law was adopted. It should be noted that at this time gambling in the Internet was not prohibited directly.
- 2019: The Gambling Regulatory Authority was founded on 1st March 2019 based on Act No. 30/2019 Coll. This new law shifted the responsibilities of the state administration of gambling from the Ministry of Finance to the newly created authority.
- 2022: The new gambling act was enacted, and its effectiveness began on the 1 st of January, 2023, which led to the legalisation of online gambling in Slovakia.
Current Bookmaker Gambling Laws
Types of Licensing
The Act recognizes two types of licenses:
- General License: In the case of games of local interest or low gambling element, for example, draw in-kind lotteries and off-casino card games, the operation is made easier.
- Individual License: It is necessary for all other gambling games, granted to certain subjects on the basis of the application.
Regulatory Agencies
Gambling laws of Slovakia are enforced by the Gambling Regulatory Authority located in Bratislava. It guarantees public order in the gambling business and offers social reparation for the risks related with gambling.
Licence Application and Restrictions
The different categories of operating licenses include the general operating license and the individual operating license and the application is done at the Office for the Regulation of Gambling. Specific requirements include:
- Registered Capital: It is in the range of EUR 70,000 to EUR 1,700,000 based on the type of license.
- Technical Infrastructure: Some of the technical infrastructure such as servers have to be physically situated in Slovakia in order to acquire licenses.
Prohibited and Allowed Bets
The legal framework of Slovakia outlines the kinds of bets that are allowed and the ones that are prohibited. The laws are meant to ensure public interest and to safeguard the credibility of the gambling business.
Slovak Sports Glory and Gambling Taxes
Licensing System
Since the 1st of March, 2019, both EU and local based companies have been eligible to apply for online gambling and betting permits. The national lottery operator TIPOS still has the monopoly on the lotteries.
Taxation and Fees
Gambling operators are subject to various taxes and levies, which must be paid to the state or municipal budget:
- Betting Games: A totalisator levy of six per cent of the gaming principal, which is to be made on a monthly basis.
- Gambling Machines: State budget tax at the rate of 4000 EUR per machine per year and a municipal tax of 4. This implies that per day per machine, the cost would be 11 dollars.
Also, the operators are required to make a monthly payment together with a special payment to the Office for the Regulation of Gambling.
Advertising Restrictions
An advertising ban is in force within a 200-metre radius of any gaming hall or casino. New advertising guidelines must be followed by the operators by June 30, 2024.
Sporting Event Glory Milestones
Ice hockey and various other sports are quite developed in Slovakia and the country has a history of success in these fields. Here are some notable milestones:
- 1939: First Slovak national football team is created.
- 1993: Slovakia gets affiliated with the International Ice Hockey Federation.
- 2002: Slovak national ice hockey team becomes the World Champion.
- 2010: Slovak football team get through to the FIFA World Cup.
- 2016: Dominica Cibulkova emerges the winner in the French Open in tennis.
Conclusion
Therefore, the gambling industry of Slovakia has expanded to cover the modern trends of online gambling and sports betting. To this end, the country undertakes that gambling operations are properly and legally run so that both the operators and the players are protected to the extent possible. Thus, it is important to know the current laws and regulations of the Slovak gambling industry regardless if you are an interested operator or a gambling fan.
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