Slovenia gambling regulation, licensing and taxation

Gambling business in Slovenia

Slovenia is a state in Central Europe, since 2004 the Republic is a member of the European Union. There are practically no restrictions on gambling in Slovenia. Anyone over the age of 18 can play in both land and online casinos. The most modern types of gambling are available to residents and visitors of the country. You can play both in land-based establishments with more than 10 in Slovenia and in online casinos.

Slovenian gambling legislation

Gambling in Slovenia is regulated by the 2012 Law on Gambling (Zakon o igrah na srečo). The purposes of this provision are:

• Creating opportunities for gambling in a regular and controlled environment;
• Prevention of money laundering, fraud and other illegal activities;
• Protecting minors and other vulnerable individuals from developing gambling addiction.

There are several types of gambling in Slovenian law:

• Games in which participants play against each other (poker, baccarat, etc.);
• A card in which gambling is opposed to a casino;
• Dice games (Craps, tai sai, etc.);
• Board games;
• Lotteries (Bingo, Keno, etc.);
• Slot machines;
• Sports betting and racing.

All persons who have reached the age of 18 and are not included in the restricted lists have the right to play. The toy house has the right to refuse to visit the player. This is possible if a person has been observed to break the rules of behavior and play nonsense.

To work in a casino, an applicant must obtain a special permit. It is issued by a special commission. To obtain this, the applicant must prove that he or she has the appropriate level of qualification and does not have a criminal record.

The State Tax Service (Davčna uprava Republike Slovenije) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ministrstvo za notranje zadeve Republike Slovenije) are responsible for enforcing the gambling legislation.

Licensing of games in Slovenia

The Ministry of Finance (Ministrstvo za finance) and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia (Vlada Republike Slovenije) issue licenses to organize games in Slovenia. Activities can be carried out by a limited liability company that is willing to enter into a concession agreement with the government. To obtain a license, you must submit an application containing the following information:

• Company name and legal address;
• Charter and extract from the court register;
• Business plan for at least 3 years;
• Description of the casino;
• The rules of each game;
• Detailed information about the owners of the company;
• Planned rules of internal control;
• Data on the gaming devices used.

The following factors are taken into account when making a decision: the impact on the tourist attractiveness of the region, the number of facilities in the gambling industry and other circumstances. Prior to issuing a permit, the government must obtain the consent of neighboring local communities. Under Slovenian law, the maximum number of simultaneous licenses for a casino is 15, and for gambling halls - 45. The minimum authorized capital is 416,000 euros, with a bank guarantee of 50% of this amount.

Online casino in Slovenia

Amendments to the operation of online casinos were introduced into Slovenian law in 2016. They are based on EU Directive 2015/1535 of 9 September 2015, which sets out the procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and rules of the public service. According to the adopted regulations, online casinos operate in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia, which have the relevant license.

Permission can be obtained under the same conditions as in aboveground facilities. The operator is obliged to meet the following conditions:

• Games should be organized through controlled and secure telecommunication channels;
• Mandatory warning of players about possible risks;
• Impose restrictions that prevent minors from participating in gambling;
• Providing responsible toys;
• Defending the fair game guarantees.

Slovenia provides a mechanism to reduce the financial damage to players. It involves determining the maximum amount of money a player is willing to spend on a monthly basis. After the expiration of this limit, the customer will be banned from accessing the online casino. Similar mechanisms are used in Sweden and other EU countries. In addition, in Slovenia there is the possibility of self-restraint for gambling entertainment. The player has the right to write an appropriate application, after which land and online casinos can no longer provide him with the service.

Before the operator receives the license, he must be provided with a package of technical documentation confirming compliance with the existing requirements.

Popular online casinos and games

Casino.si is one of the most visited online casinos among Slovenian players. This service was one of the first to receive an official license. The site has the ability to play slots, table games and instant lottery. In addition, the following resources are popular among Slovenian players:

• Bet365;
• Omniscots;
• Netbet;
• 32 red;
• Casino- X

The most popular slots in Slovenia

The most popular slot machine according to Slovenian online casinos is the Egyptian theme Book of Ra from the Austrian manufacturer Greentube. Slovenian players also have the following slot machines:

• The charm of a lucky lady;
• Rex;
• Lots of twenty;
• Sizzling Hot Deluxe;
• Starburst.

There is no information about the famous creators of Slovenian gaming software. Products from such manufacturers are popular in the country: Greentube, NetEnt and Playtech.

Prospects for the development of the Slovenian gaming market

The gambling business in Slovenia is stable and due to the fact that the country is a member of the European Union, there are no preconditions for tightening legislation in the field of gambling management. Since the regulation of online casinos was adopted relatively recently, there is an expectation of even more stability in this market segment.

Slovenia is one of the countries where gambling is regulated. If a player has reason to believe that gambling causes him financial loss, he has the opportunity to protect himself from such risk. There are no unjustified prohibition measures in the territory of the Republic and comfortable and safe working conditions have been created for the operators.