Serbia Rejects New Gambling Venue Restrictions

Serbia’s government is resisting a parliamentary proposal that would restrict where new betting shops can open, arguing the measure could end up shielding existing gambling businesses instead of reducing their presence.

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The dispute centers on amendments backed by Serbian Democracy (NSD) lawmakers Vaso Obradović and Milica Rondović. Their proposal would require any new betting venue to be at least 80 metres away from another gambling location, with the stated goal of gradually reducing the number of betting outlets over time.

Finance Ministry Says Reform Misses Its Target

The Ministry of Finance, headed by Novica Vuković, has urged members of parliament to reject the proposal. Officials contend that the distance rule would apply only to future operators, while businesses already in the market would continue operating regardless of whether they met the new requirement.

From the ministry’s perspective, that would leave the current concentration of gambling venues largely unchanged. Instead, it would make it harder for new competitors to enter the market while giving established operators a lasting commercial advantage.

The ministry also maintains that the proposal conflicts with the principle of equal treatment for market participants because the restrictions would not apply equally across the sector.

Government Points to Existing Gambling Crackdown

Rather than introducing new location limits, the Finance Ministry argues that gambling reforms adopted in August 2025 are already reshaping the market.

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Officials point to a decline in licensed slot machine venues, stronger enforcement against illegal gaming machines, and penalties for operators that breach advertising rules as evidence that the existing framework is producing results.

Figures from Serbia’s Games of Chance Administration show there are currently 50 licensed slot machine venues, down from 61 recorded in 2024. The country also has 18 licensed betting outlets, a figure that has remained broadly stable between 18 and 20 since 2018, alongside two licensed casinos.

At the same time, parliament is reviewing separate amendments to Serbia’s gambling legislation aimed at strengthening enforcement against illegal gambling rather than introducing additional restrictions on legal operators.

The Finance Ministry has signaled that its priority remains tighter oversight, stronger control mechanisms, and limiting the illegal market while preserving equal conditions for licensed businesses.

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Source: www.ign.com