Online Casino Croatia
Croatia is a country with one of the most balanced and transparent gambling regulatory systems in Eastern Europe.
Gambling here is legal and completely controlled by the state, while foreign operators can operate on a par with national ones with a license.
The developed tourism industry, stable economy and integration with the EU make the Croatian market one of the most promising areas for iGaming business.
Legislative framework
Gambling in Croatia is regulated by law
Zakon o igrama na sreću (Gambling Law), passed in 2009 and amended in 2014 and 2020.
The main principles of the law:- gambling is allowed but requires a license;
- activities controlled by the Croatian Ministry of Finance (Ministarstvo Financija Republike Hrvatske);
- online gambling is regulated on a par with the offline sector;
- foreign operators can obtain a license if they have a legal entity in Croatia or the EU;
- participation of persons under 18 years of age is prohibited.
Audit and technical control issues are assigned to the Tax Administration (Porezna Uprava), which maintains a register of licensed operators.
Licensing
A state license is required to conduct gambling activities in Croatia.
License types:- casinos (online and offline);
- bookmakers and betting shops;
- slot machines and bingo;
- lotteries.
- registration of the company in Croatia or the EU;
- the presence of an authorized capital of at least HRK 4 million (€530,000);
- financial transparency and owner reputation;
- software certification (GLI, iTech Labs, eCOGRA);
- implementation of Responsible Gaming;
- annual license and audit review.
License term: 15 years.
Major licensed operators:- SuperSport. hr, Favbet. hr, Admiral. hr, Germania. hr, PSK. hr, Arena Casino, Hrvatska Lutrija, Bet365. hr, MozzartBet. hr.
Taxation
Croatia applies a flexible taxation system that stimulates market development.
Additionally, operators pay:- corporate tax - 18%,
- the annual license fee is € 200 000-500 000 (depending on the scale of the business).
- 10% when winning up to HRK 30,000;
- 15% - up to HRK 500,000;
- 20% - over HRK 500,000.
Online gambling
Online gambling in Croatia is officially allowed and strictly regulated.
Licensed operators are required to host their servers in the EU and ensure transparency of transactions.
Popular online casinos:- SuperSport Casino is the nation's largest platform;
- Arena Casino is a local brand with live dealers;
- PSK Casino (Prva Sportska Kladionica);
- Admiral. hr - Novomatic network;
- Germania Casino, Favbet, Bet365, MozzartBet.
- video slots and progressive jackpots;
- roulette and blackjack;
- live-casino and poker;
- sports and esports betting;
- virtual games.
According to the Ministry of Finance (2024), the volume of online gambling in the country exceeded €450 million, and the online segment occupied 55% of the market.
Land-based casinos
Offline gambling in Croatia has a long history and is closely related to tourism.
The largest casinos are located in Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik and Osijek.
Popular establishments:- Diamond Palace Casino Zagreb;
- Admiral Casino Zagreb;
- Golden Sun Casino Split;
- Casino Dubrovnik Princess;
- Grand Casino Lav (at Le Meridien Hotel).
Many casinos combine classic games and modern machines, and also offer VIP lounges for foreign tourists.
Payment methods
The main currency is the euro (EUR) (from 2023).
Available payment methods:- Visa, MasterCard, Maestro;
- Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, Revolut;
- Apple Pay, Google Pay;
- bank transfers via Zagrebačka banka, PBZ, OTP, Erste Bank;
- Paysafecard and cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, USDT) are allowed under AML control.
All operators are required to store customer data in encrypted form and comply with GDPR and PSD2 requirements.
Responsible play
Croatia is actively implementing the principles of Responsible Gaming through the national program "Igraj Odgovorno."
Main measures:- age limit 18 +;
- limits on deposits and losses;
- possibility of self-exclusion;
- Dependency risk warnings
- psychological help hotline under the Ministry of Health.
All operators are required to transfer part of the profit (0.5% GGR) to the Fond za Prevenciju Ovisnosti fund, aimed at preventing gambling addiction.
Economic importance
Gambling is an important component of the Croatian economy.
According to the Ministry of Finance (2024):- total market turnover - about €800 million per year;
- tax revenues - €180 million annually;
- more than 4,000 jobs;
- up to 70% of players place bets online.
The gambling sector also supports sport and culture, with operators SuperSport, PSK, Favbet sponsoring football clubs, basketball leagues and charity programmes.
Challenges and challenges
The main challenges for the Croatian market are:- competition between national and international operators;
- the need to update the regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and VR gambling;
- combating unlicensed sites;
- raising the standards of Responsible Gaming.
The state actively cooperates with the European Association of Regulators (EGBA) and implements uniform reporting standards.
Development prospects
Croatia is gradually strengthening its position as a regional center for online gambling in the Adriatic region.
Key areas of development:- license simplification for European operators;
- implementation of a centralized real-time rate monitoring system;
- development of fintech solutions and instant payments;
- regulation of crypto casinos and Web3 gambling.
With a stable economy, EU membership and a loyal tax policy, Croatia is becoming one of Europe's most attractive and secure jurisdictions for online casinos and iGaming businesses, offering a balance between control, innovation and a responsible approach to players.