Serbia to regulate online gambling

JAKTA, a trade association representing the interests of Serbian gaming operators, authorised technicians and producers of slot machines and equipment for games of chance, was in self-congratulatory mode this week following news that the government is to go the regulatory route on internet gambling.

The association has lobbied vigorously with the government and the Serbian Gaming Board for legalisation, leading to a new law being passed late November that imposes regulation as the government moves to tackle illegal operators and suspicions that money laundering may be associated with them.

“We are very optimistic,” said JAKTA president Mirjana Acimovic. “We can see that our conscientious work in gathering the relevant facts about gaming markets in the former Yugoslavia and the rest of Europe has been worthwhile. We compared different national regulatory models and collaborated with relevant partners such as testing laboratories, reputable companies and associations.

“JAKTA put a lot of effort into lobbying the government for the creation of a well-regulated gaming market.”

Aleksandar Vulovic, director of the Serbian Gaming Board commented: “The new law will lead to the opening up of the online gaming market.”

He went on to outline three important aspects of the new online gambling law, saying the first and most important is the control of online gaming; the second is the electronic monitoring of operators and the third is the streamlining of taxation for the industry.

Vulovic said the Gaming Board is now planning to crack down hard on illegal operators, with the backing of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the tax authorities.

All gaming licences will have a duration of 10 years, and there are strict requirements to prevent unfair activity, underage and problem gambling and money laundering.

Related and similar