In February 2025, the Government of Montenegro submitted a proposal for a new Law on Gambling to parliamentary procedure, following its August 2024 announcements. The Parliament is expected to decide on the proposal by the end of Q1 2025.
The law aims to establish a robust regulatory framework to eliminate the grey market and attract foreign investors. It is projected that budget revenues will be boosted by approximately 20% compared to 2024.
However, gambling operators have voiced numerous objections to the proposed law, criticising its strict regulations that they believe limit their operational flexibility and expressing concerns that increased fees could threaten their business viability.
The proposed law reforms the licensing system by replacing concession agreements with approval-based licensing, significantly increasing the length of approvals. It also implements stricter requirements, such as general corporate standards, minimum share capital thresholds, bank guarantees, and technical and spatial conditions.
A key focus is on the continuous supervision of gambling operators, with enhanced authority for inspectors and the introduction of technical supervision officers. In line with this, the misdemeanour provisions have been heavily revised, incorporating hundreds of misdemeanours.
Significant increases in both fixed and variable fees for gambling activities are also proposed. The Government has justified these increases due to the positive trend in the gambling sector, the inflation effect, and alignment with comparative practices.
The law emphasises responsible gambling, requiring operators to protect minors and prevent addiction through visible warnings on-premises and websites. Advertising will be heavily restricted, prohibiting ads on domestic and foreign broadcasts in Montenegro from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Public ads will be limited to operator business premises or vehicles, while online ads will be restricted to operator websites or sports-related platforms.
Vulnerable individuals, including those prosecuted for unpaid child support or diagnosed with gambling addiction, will be excluded from gambling activities. Players can request self-exclusion or set daily deposit limits.
A debated provision reduces the minimum distance between gambling establishments and educational institutions to 150 meters (air distance), with expert verification of compliance. The law also revises online gambling by outlining registration procedures, regulating bet accounts, and implementing e-card registration in slot clubs to track player deposits and winnings.
The law includes an eight-day vacatio legis period and a 270-day compliance deadline, with operators required to apply for approvals at least 60 days before the deadline. Many operators have already begun preparing for compliance.
The information in this document does not constitute legal advice on any particular matter and is provided for general informational purposes only.
