Serbia

Online gambling is legal in Serbia since 2017 when new legislation was passed, to create the legal framework for games of chance.

Serbia is a promising gambling market in Eastern Europe, especially after January 2017, when new legislation was passed. The new law states that all gambling activities are illegal, as long as the operators hold a valid license. The Serbian Directorate for Games of Chance is in charge of licensing online casinos, bingo parlors, bookmakers and poker rooms, as well as lotteries.

The piece of legislation enacted in 2017 reverses the 2011 online gambling ban and sets the legal framework for prospective operators. Currently, there is no tax for players when it comes to slots and poker, while punters are subject to a 15% tax on betting winnings.

About

Serbia is the largest country from the former Yugoslavia and this makes it an obvious choice for gambling operators willing to expand into Eastern Europe. Before 2011, the market was unregulated, but with the passing of a new law, websites of foreign companies were blocked to prevent the access of players. After several years of cracking down on illegal underground gambling, legislation was passed in 2017.

Sports betting is particularly popular in Serbia, and today leading bookmakers can legally provide local punters with access to dozens of sports and hundreds of markets. Football and basketball are the most popular sports among Serbian players, with local teams shining brightly in international tournaments such as the FIBA EuroBasket competition.