Slovenia is located in south-central Europe. As a country that has embarked on the process of attaining sovereignty since 1991, there have been changes in the gambling policies especially on sports betting. This article aims to analyze the legislation and rules governing gambling activities at Slovenia bookmakers, the existing regulatory bodies in the country, the types of bets allowed and prohibited, gambling licenses and their fees, gambling taxes, and important events in sports betting in Slovenia.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
The History of Slovenia Gaming Laws
The Beginnings and Yugoslavian Era (1965 – 1991)
- 1965: The Yugoslavian Gaming Act was passed in order to legalise gambling; with the purpose of helping the reconstruction of the country in the post Second World War period. This act paved way to the legal gambling in the region.
- 1972: The Penthouse Adriatic Club was launched and the building cost $45 million with making it the largest casino in Slovenia at that time. It was owned by Robert Charles Joseph Edward Sabatini Guccione an American entrepreneur popularly known for starting the Penthouse magazine.
- While Yugoslavia was a socialist state, it permitted ‘pavilions for games of chance’ which were mainly directed at the visitors and the foreigners. By the year 1972, the number of casinos in Yugoslavia reached 28 and out of these only 3 were in Slovenia.
Post – Independence history of Regulation Changes in India 1991 – 2010:
- 1991: Slovenia gained independence and gambling was legalised in Slovenia from the very beginning. The continued operations of the former casinos were allowed but of course with a new set of rules.
- 1995: The Slovenian Gaming Act was adopted and gambling and casinos were officially permitted, and the ban on Slovenians to enter gambling facilities was lifted. This helped in giving a better structure to the gambling business.
- 2012: The Zakon o igrah na srečo reformulated the laws on gambling in Slovenia, thus becoming the primary legal act regulating the sphere. Online and land based gambling was brought under new Gaming Act that fell under the Finance Ministry’s supervision.
Slovenia Bookmakers: Current Landscape
Main Modifications and International Concern (2022 – 2023)
- 2022: New amendments to the Slovenian Gaming Act intended to liberalize the market by lifting most of the restrictions concerning the casino ownership and employee licenses. The amendments also aimed at raising the number of lottery organisers from two to five.
- 2023: Slovenian authorities reported that they performed 115 inspections to ensure the compliance with the ban on the provision of the prohibited gambling activities. They launched 34 actions against the offenders and through these, the rights of non-compliant websites were removed by the administrative courts through IP blocks.
There are more international operators expressing their interest in the Slovenia and the Balkans region. For example:
- Flutter Entertainment bought 51% of the Serbian Company MaxBet for €141 million and has an option to purchase the rest of 49% in the year 2029.
- Entain CEE has also concentrated on the region, for instance, obtaining Croatia’s SuperSport, and, at the same time, pulling out from the bidding process for Slovenia’s Športna Loterija.
Prohibited and Allowed Bets
The types of sports betting accepted in Slovenia include online lottery, sports betting, which is controlled by the Slovenian National Lottery and Sportna Loterija. Still, the other forms of online betting like the online casinos are limited to the approved companies like Casino Portorož d. d. At the moment no other private companies can get the license to conduct online gambling.
Gambling Licenses and Fees
The Gambling licenses in Slovenia are provided by the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia. The number of casino licenses is limited to 15, as for the slot halls their number is limited to 45. The law distinguishes two types of gambling: special – casinos and classic / regular – slots. Licensing conditions and tariffs are posted on the official web-site of the Financial Administration.
Gambling Tax Rates in Slovenia:
- General Gambling Tax: It ranges from 5% to 18%; this depends on the type of the game and the Gross Gambling Revenue.
- Concession, License Fee: 5% – 45%, depending on the game type and GGR.
- Gambling Winnings Tax: 15% for the prizes that are more than €300.
These taxes are on top of the corporate taxes that stand at 19 percent at the moment. It must be pointed out that gambling activities are outside the sphere of VAT.
Legal Environment and Supervisory Authorities.
Slovenia’s bookmakers work under the Gambling Act of 1995 and its enhancements. The Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia in collaboration with the Special Financial Office regulates the Gaming Act. This agency is in charge of the implementation of the gambling laws and also the prevention of unlawful practices.
Slovenia Sports Betting: An Introduction
Legal Sports Betting Activities
Slovenia offers several legal sports betting options through state-owned operators:
- 1. Online Lottery: Owned by the Slovenian National Lottery.
- 2. Online Bingo: It is also operated under the Slovenian National Lottery under the ministry of finance.
- 3. Online Sports Betting: Only owned by Sportna Loterija which is a subsidiary of the national lottery.
The Popular Sports and Accomplishments
Sporting activities are also well developed in Slovenia; football, basketball, skiing and other games are quite popular in the country. Some key milestones include:
- 2002: The Polish National football team has been included in the FIFA World Cup 2018.
- 2010: The national football team once again made it to the FIFA World Cup, it expelled the Russian team in the qualifiers, a team that was considered the favorite to win.
- 2017: Slovenia’s men national basketball team emerged champions of the EuroBasket tournament.
- 2002: The mens national ice hockey team was claimed the bron medal at the winter Olympics.
- 2004: The men national handball team emerged champions in the European Men’s Handball Championship.
Conclusion
The history of gambling in Slovenia can be characterized by the shifts in legal frameworks and the successes of the country’s athletes. Slovenia’s gambling laws are still being developed in order to meet EU requirements and to allow international companies to operate within the country; the future seems bright for Slovenian bookmakers and sports betting services. To those who want to be updated with the current laws and events in Slovenia sports betting, it is essential to know the current status of the regulation and the market.
FAQ of Slovenia Bookmakers
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