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1. Market overview
Where the market sits, who runs it and under what law.
Gambling in Macedonia
Macedonia is a relatively young state in the southeast of Europe, where gambling is legal and available to any adult resident. More than 5 land-based establishments operate in the country. Online casino activity, in accordance with Macedonian laws, is also legal. Slot machines, sports betting and poker are especially popular in Macedonia. Macedonian law allows the operation of casinos, slot machine halls and betting shops. The activity of sites dedicated to gambling is not yet regulated, but the authorities are looking into this issue.
Gambling legislation in Macedonia
Gambling in Macedonia is currently regulated by the Gambling Law (Zakon za igrite na sreḱa i za zabavnite games), which came into force in 2011. According to its provisions, the following types of gambling are allowed and subject to licensing in the country:
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sports predictions;
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lotteries;
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casino games;
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slot machines;
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lotto;
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instant lotteries.
To obtain a license, you must obtain permission from the Government of Macedonia (Vladata na Republika Makedonija) and the Ministry of Finance of Macedonia (Ministerstvoto za finansii). The licensing process can take up to 9 months. The licensee must have an authorized capital of at least 2,500,000 EUR or an equivalent amount in national currency. In addition, the company is obliged to provide a bank guarantee in the amount of EUR 300,000 at the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia (Narodnata banka na Republika Makedonija).
The room in which the games are played must be appropriately equipped and have a separate entrance. Casinos cannot be located near educational institutions. If a gambling establishment is opened at a hotel complex, then it must be a tourist infrastructure facility of a category of at least four stars. The administration of the gambling house is obliged to restrict access to minors.
In Macedonia, it is possible to open separate slot machine halls. To obtain a license for this type of activity, the player must have an authorized capital of at least 450,000 EUR. The floor area must be at least 200 square meters. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ministerstvoto za vnatreni raboti), the State Revenue Office (Upravata za javni prihodi) and the Ministry of Finance monitor compliance with gambling laws in Macedonia.
Online casino in Macedonia
At the moment, the regulations governing online gambling in Macedonia are under development. It is planned to create a monopoly in this segment. In accordance with the bill currently being considered by the authorities, the state must be the owner of a share of at least 51% in companies that provide online casinos. It is expected that a special state enterprise will be created that will specialize in this area.
Now some of the gambling sites are being blocked in the Macedonian segment of the Internet. As in other countries, this is not a significant deterrent for players, especially since there is no responsibility for the use of online casino services for Macedonian users.
Popular online casinos and games in Macedonia
Among the online casinos that are especially popular among Macedonian players, we can highlight the following resources:
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OmniSlots;
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Bet365;
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7Bit
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Vera & John;
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Play Grand.
As for bookmakers, users from Macedonia prefer to bet on sites: Bet365, NetBet and BetSupremacy. According to statistics, approximately 72% of the adult male population under 25 in Macedonia regularly bets on sports. Over 70 bookmakers are licensed in the country.
The most popular slot machines
In casinos with the highest attendance among Macedonian players, the following developments are most popular:
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Jackpot Giant;
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Age of the Gods;
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Jungle Trouble;
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starburst;
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Twin Spin;
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Gonzo's Quest;
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Aloha Cluster Pays.
Macedonia does not have its own gambling software developers. Representative offices of such companies as Spielo, eGaming and others are located on the territory of the country. According to online casino ratings, Playtech and NetEnt products are popular with players from Macedonia.
Prospects for the development of gambling business in Macedonia
Tourism is one of the key sectors of the Macedonian economy. There are a number of popular ski and balneological resorts on the territory of the republic. The presence of land-based gambling establishments is considered a powerful factor in attracting tourists, thanks to which it is possible to predict the further development of this segment. There are currently no signs that the authorities will come to a decision to ban or restrict access to gambling.
From the looks of things, online casinos will continue to be popular entertainment. Since 2005, the country has been a candidate for joining the European Union, where the attitude towards virtual gambling is very loyal. This allows us to predict that in order to adapt to EU legislation, Macedonia will avoid tightening control over the activities of online casinos. Probably, the licensing procedure for foreign operators will not be the easiest due to the introduction of a state monopoly, but this feature is unlikely to affect ordinary players. In addition, if Macedonia joins the European Union, then the existence of a state monopoly on online gambling would be contrary to the requirements of the EU Commission.
Gambling in Macedonia is a popular and affordable entertainment. Players are given the opportunity to choose from an impressive number of land-based establishments. The gambling business is in the development stage, and may soon demonstrate intensive growth.
- Region
- Europe
- Legal status of gambling
- Partially regulated
- National regulator
- Licences are granted jointly by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Revenue Office and the Ministry of Finance monitor compliance.
- Regulator website
- Under verification
- Key legislation
- Gambling Law (Zakon za igrite na sreḱa i za zabavnite igri), in force since 2011.
- Minimum player age
- Under verification
2. Allowed verticals
What may be offered, and whether it needs a licence.
| Vertical | Status | Licence required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land-based casino | Permitted with a licence | Yes | More than 5 land-based establishments were operating at the time of the source; licensing requires a minimum authorised capital of EUR 2,500,000 plus a EUR 300,000 bank guarantee at the National Bank; the gambling room must have a separate entrance and stay away from educational institutions; a hotel-based casino must be in a 4-star-or-higher facility. |
| Slots / gaming halls | Permitted with a licence | Yes | Standalone slot-machine halls are permitted, requiring a minimum authorised capital of EUR 450,000 and at least 200 sqm of floor area. |
| Sports betting | Permitted with a licence | Yes | Described in the source as "sports predictions"; over 70 bookmakers were licensed in the country at the time of the source. |
| Lottery | Permitted with a licence | Yes | Includes lotto and instant lotteries as separate licensed categories, alongside ordinary lotteries. |
| Poker | Permitted with a licence | Yes | Named among the popular casino games in the source; regulated as a casino game under the Gambling Law. |
| Online casino | Restricted | No | Legal for Macedonian users to access per the source, but the regulations specifically governing online gambling were still under development. A bill under consideration would create a state monopoly requiring at least 51% state ownership in any company providing online casino games, through a dedicated state enterprise. Some gambling websites were being blocked at the time of the source, though use was not penalised for players. |
3. Licensing framework
What a licence is, what it costs and what the holder must have in country.
- B2C licensing
- Available (land-based); online gambling regulation was still under development at the time of the source, with a planned state monopoly requiring at least 51% state ownership in any company offering online casino games.
- B2B licensing
- Under verification
- Licence term
- Under verification
- Application fee
- Under verification
- Annual fee
- Under verification
- Local presence required
- Under verification
- Share capital required
- At least EUR 2,500,000 (or the equivalent in national currency), plus a EUR 300,000 bank guarantee at the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia, for a casino licence; at least EUR 450,000 for a standalone slot-machine-hall licence.
5. Technical requirements and compliance
What has to be certified, recorded and kept inside the border.
- Certification and game testing
- Under verification
- Responsible gambling
- Gambling-house administration must restrict access to minors; casinos cannot be located near educational institutions; a casino inside a hotel complex must be in a tourist facility rated at least 4 stars.
- AML regime
- Under verification
- AML and KYC
- Under verification
- Server and data localisation
- Under verification
Take the North Macedonia brief with you
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Planning to enter North Macedonia?
A regulatory assessment reads North Macedonia's regime against your own products, licence class and corporate structure, and says what follows for each: what you may offer, what you must hold, what it costs and what will change.
Who wrote this
- Last reviewed
Regulatory Intelligence disclaimer
Information is provided for general regulatory intelligence purposes and should not be treated as legal advice for a specific transaction or business model. Regulatory requirements may change and should be confirmed before market entry or implementation.