Slovakias gaming oversight agency declared in a public statement that the nation’s inhabitants gambled a sum of €214 billion (equivalent to $231 billion) in the year 2023.
The total sum wagered by Slovakian gamblers in 2023 amounted to €214 billion, with the online sector exhibiting substantial growth.
The head of the regulatory body, Martin Bohosh, disclosed that Slovakian players secured €204 billion in winnings. National tax proceeds increased by more than €50 million year-over-year, reaching over €301 million.
Online levies accounted for €93 million of national tax revenue, with fixed-odds wagering contributing €80.48 million. Simultaneously, brick-and-mortar casinos contributed €61.9 million to the government.
The online market continues to hold a dominant position, with 90% of Slovakians favoring online betting. However, in the realm of digital lotteries, online wagering represents only 14% of the total sum wagered, as Slovakians still favor purchasing lottery tickets in physical locations.
Slovakia imposes a 22% tax rate on fixed-odds betting for online operators’ gross gaming revenue (GGR), and 6% on land-based companies’ turnover. Concurrently, online casinos are also subject to a 22% tax rate. For land-based casinos, 27% of GGR is allocated to the state, and 3% to the municipality where the casino is situated.
The regulatory body is actively engaged in efforts to suppress unlawful operators.
Bohosh recognized the persistent difficulties Slovak authorities encounter in battling illicit online gaming businesses. However, he also highlighted that data indicates that efforts to suppress unlawful gambling are “successful,” especially with technological equipment like quiz machines in pubs and other food service establishments.
The campaign against illegal operators extends to the digital realm, with regulators actively pursuing black market operators, including loot boxes in computer games. Regulators possess the authority to penalize advertising by unlawful operators.
Bohosh outlined the dangers of certain cities attempting to prohibit gambling, arguing that such restrictive measures could drive players toward potentially harmful black markets.
“I trust this subject will be the focus of wider societal dialogue, because if someone believes that by banning legal gambling in a major city, gambling problems will be resolved, yes, legal gambling will be resolved, but the risk of illegal gambling remains substantial.”
In May 2023, regulators declared that they conducted 2,511 inspections in the initial quarter. This is 201 more than the same period in 2022. Digital inspections surged by 90% compared to the first quarter of 2022.
Local restrictions are anticipated to diminish the contribution of land-based casinos.
Although land-based casinos contributed €61.9 million to the state’s financial resources in 2023, regulators anticipate this figure to decline by 22% by 2025.
This is due to limitations enforced by certain regional administrations.
Regional administrations possess the power to control gambling activities within their territories. These authorities encompass the power to forbid land-based establishments and other limitations, such as prohibiting specific locations.
Bohosh also censured Slovak towns and regional administrations for neglecting to give sufficient focus to the nation’s gambling agenda.
What forms of wagering are accessible in Slovakia?
Sporting wagers, horse racing wagers, poker, and casinos are all regulated forms of gambling in Slovakia. Lotteries and bingo are controlled by the state-owned entity Tipos.
Slovakia’s gambling legislation took effect on March 1, 2019. The law permits foreign private operators to apply for sports betting and casino licenses, though sports betting licenses did not become active until July 1, 2020.
In 2022, the nation’s regulatory body released a list of approved websites operated by Slovak-licensed operators.
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