Online casinos in Slovenia
Slovenia, located in the heart of Central Europe, is an example of the successful integration of regulated gambling into the EU economy. Here, gambling is legal, licensed and strictly controlled by the state.
Thanks to a transparent licensing system and a stable tax policy, the country attracts both national and international operators.
Legislative framework
The basis of regulation is the Law on Gambling (Zakon o igrah na srečo), adopted in 1995 and updated in 2012, 2017 and 2021.
The main principles of the law:- gambling is allowed but requires a Treasury Department license;
- limited number of operators (quota limit);
- both offline and online games are allowed;
- foreign companies can work only when creating a subsidiary in Slovenia;
- participation of persons under 18 years of age is prohibited.
The regulator is Uprava Republike Slovenije za nadzor iger na srečo (Gambling Control Department under the Ministry of Finance).
He controls:- issuing licenses;
- tax revenues;
- technical certification of gaming platforms;
- protecting the rights of players.
Licensing
Gambling licenses in Slovenia are issued by the Ministry of Finance on the basis of competitive selection.
The number of licenses is limited - the state maintains a "controlled market" model to prevent industry oversaturation.
License types:1. Casino (Casino License) - for ground and online establishments;
2. Gaming Halls - with a separate resolution;
3. Online gambling and betting (Remote Gambling License);
4. National Lottery License.
Conditions for obtaining a license:- registration of a legal entity in Slovenia;
- minimum authorized capital - €1 million;
- financial stability and debt-free;
- RNG and gaming software certification (GLI, eCOGRA);
- mandatory implementation of Responsible Gaming;
- approval by the Treasury Department and the Gambling Commission.
License term: 10 years, renewable.
Major licensed operators:- Hit Group (Nova Gorica, Kranjska Gora, Portorož);
- Casino Portorož / Casino Bled;
- Športna Loterija d. d. (national sports betting operator);
- E-stave. si is the country's largest online betting platform.
Taxation
Slovenia offers one of the most transparent and balanced taxation systems in the region.
Optional:- Corporate tax - 19%;
- Contribution to the Responsible Gaming social fund - 0.5% GGR;
- Players are exempt from winnings tax if playing with a licensed operator.
Online gambling
Online gambling has been legalized in Slovenia since 2013, but the market remains partially limited: permission has been issued to a limited number of operators, most of which have state participation.
Popular online casinos and bookmakers:- E-stave. si is the national online betting leader;
- Hit Online Casino is a subsidiary platform of the largest casino network;
- Admiral Slovenija is the international operator of Novomatic;
- Sportna Loterija - official online lottery and betting;
- Bwin, Bet365, PokerStars - available from European domains, but without a local license.
- video slots, roulette, blackjack, poker;
- live games with dealers;
- sports and esports betting;
- virtual leagues and sweepstakes.
According to the Ministry of Finance (2024), the volume of online gambling in the country exceeded €240 million, and the number of active players reached 200,000.
Land-based casinos
The land sector remains an important part of Slovenia's economy and tourism.
Largest complexes:- Perla Casino & Hotel Nova Gorica is the largest casino in Central Europe;
- Casino Portorož is the oldest casino in the country (founded in 1913);
- Casino Bled - known for its upmarket atmosphere and VIP lounges;
- Casino Kranjska Gora is a popular destination with Italians and Austrians.
Casino complexes offer slot machines, poker tournaments, VIP lounges, restaurants and hotels, contributing to the development of tourism and employment.
Payment methods
The base currency is Euro (EUR).
Licensed platforms support a wide range of payment solutions:- Visa, MasterCard, Maestro;
- Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz;
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, Revolut;
- bank transfers (NLB, SKB Banka, Addiko, Intesa);
- Paysafecard and cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, USDT) - allowed subject to AML.
All transactions are controlled in accordance with European PSD2 and AMLD5 directives.
Responsible play
Slovenia is actively implementing Responsible Gaming standards in accordance with EU recommendations.
The regulator requires all licensed operators to support player protection measures.
The main mechanisms are:- age control (18 +);
- KYC and deposit limits;
- self-exclusion and temporary account blocking;
- psychological help hotline at Ministrstvo za zdravje;
- mandatory notifications of gambling addiction risks.
In addition, the state funds the research program "Igralna Odgovornost," aimed at studying the impact of gambling on society.
Economic importance
Gambling occupies a significant share in the Slovenian economy.
According to the Ministry of Finance (2024):- total industry turnover - about €600 million;
- tax revenues - €120 million annually;
- more than 3,000 jobs;
- about 70% of casino revenue comes from tourism.
Gembling actively supports sports and cultural projects: part of the taxes goes to the National Sports Fund of Slovenia.
Challenges and challenges
The main challenges of the market:- limited number of licenses (monopoly in some segments);
- competition with offshore online casinos;
- the need to adapt legislation for cryptocurrencies and Web3;
- development of Responsible Gaming mechanisms.
In 2025, it is expected to consider amendments to the law, providing for the opening of the market for more operators and increased transparency of online licenses.
Development prospects
Slovenia is confidently moving towards liberalization and digitalization of the gambling sector.
Key areas for the coming years:- digital licenses for new operators;
- legalization of crypto and blockchain casinos;
- development of the B2B sector (providers of software and payment solutions);
- integration with the pan-European Responsible Gambling system.
Due to its stability, geographical location and EU membership, Slovenia is becoming an attractive hub for iGaming companies, combining security, transparency and a high level of player confidence.