Casinos, bookmakers, lotteries, online gambling are legal

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General legality and legal basis

In Slovakia, gambling is completely legal, regulated by Law No. 30/2019 Coll. "On Gambling." This law was a key reform that modernized the market and brought national legislation in line with European standards. It opened the market to private operators, allowed foreign investors from EU and EEA countries, and divided activities between public and commercial entities.

Earlier, before the 2019 reform, most of the market was controlled by the state operator TIPOS, a. s., which maintains a monopoly on numerical lotteries and instant games. However, after the law came into force, private companies received the right to work in the field of casinos, betting and online gambling, subject to obtaining a license from Úrad pre reguláciu hazardných hier (ÚRHH).

Land-based casinos

Casinos can operate in large cities, tourist areas and resort regions (Bratislava, Kosice, Trencin, Zilina). Their functioning requires a license to conduct gambling in ground form, which is issued for a period of 10 years.

Casinos are required to comply with strict regulations:

restriction of access for persons under 18 years of age;
24-hour video surveillance and data archiving;
connection to the centralized control system;
transparent accounting of all bets and winnings.

Most often, licensed establishments offer classic games - roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, slot machines and live tables.

Bookmakers and sports betting

Sports betting (including betting and fixed odds) is governed by the same law. They can be placed:

in offline points operating under license;
in online format, on legal platforms with a local license.

The Slovak market includes both local operators (for example, Tiposport, Niké) and international brands that have received local permits. Online betting has become the fastest growing segment since the reform, especially due to the development of mobile applications and live betting.

Lotteries and government monopoly

Lottery products remain a state monopoly operated by TIPOS, a. s.. She runs national number lotteries (Loto, Eurojackpot, Keno 10), instant tickets and online raffles.

The monopoly is maintained to ensure control and financing of social programs. Part of TIPOS's revenues goes to sports, culture and charitable foundations, which is reflected in the annual budget reports of the Ministry of Finance.

Online gambling and regulation since 2019

Before the reform, online games were effectively banned, except for the state portal eTIPOS. sk. After the entry into force of law No. 30/2019 Coll. Slovakia opened the market to private operators with the EU/EEA.

From 2020, licenses can be obtained for:

online casinos (slots, roulette, poker, live games);
online betting;
virtual games and sweepstakes.

ÚRHH controls all online platforms, maintains a register of permitted sites and publishes a "black list" of illegal operators whose domains are blocked at the level of Internet providers.

Taxation and operator contributions

Licensed companies are required to pay:

23% tax on GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue) for online casinos;
22% - for rates;
monthly contributions to ÚRHH (0.7% of revenue).

These proceeds form a trust fund to regulate the market and fund responsible play programs.

Responsible play and consumer protection

Players can voluntarily add themselves to the register of excluded persons who are blocked from accessing casinos and online sites. In addition, the law provides for:

rate and loss limits;
automatic notification of a long session;
banning ads targeting minors or vulnerable groups.

Such a system makes the Slovak market safe and socially balanced.

Market outlook

By 2025, the country has a balanced regulatory model, where the state retains control over lotteries, and private companies develop casinos and online betting under strict supervision. This system provides:

sustainable tax revenue;
transparency of the gaming sector;
protecting the interests of players.

By 2030, Slovakia is expected to continue the course of expanding licensed online gambling and introducing digital tools for control and responsible play.

💡 Total:
In Slovakia, all the main forms of gambling are legal - casinos, bookmakers, lotteries and online gambling. Thanks to a clear licensing system and the effective work of the ÚRHH regulator, the country is one of the most transparent and consistently regulated markets in Central Europe.