The European Gambling and Amusement Federation (EUROMAT) has filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding changes to Croatia’s Gambling Act.
The industry association accuses the government of Croatia of circumventing European Union law by failing to notify the European Commission (EC) of changes to the country’s Gambling Act via the TRIS notification system.
The gambling reforms were first unveiled by the Croatian government in July 2024 and include measures to combat unlicensed online gambling, further restrict advertising, and prohibit anonymous play in retail.
EUROMAT president Jason Frost said: “This complaint marks an important first step in the EU’s legal process. Complaints such as that filed by EUROMAT are a key tool to alert the Commission to potential breaches of EU law. Based on EUROMAT’s complaint, the European Commission will be able to assess the evidence and decide on the next steps, including whether to open infringement proceedings against Croatia.
“The notification procedure exists to ensure that national measures are compatible with the principles of the Single Market. Croatia’s decision to ignore this obligation not only breaches EU law; it also threatens legal certainty for businesses across Europe. The Commission must act decisively to uphold the integrity of the internal market.”
EUROMAT believes that the new rules will affect the provision of services in the Croatian gambling market and give an unfair advantage to certain segments of the market (lotteries) by exempting them from the new rules.
The new rules include mandatory player identification requirements, strict limits on the location and layout of gambling venues, a comprehensive ban on online and social-media advertising, TV advertising time restrictions, and a central player self-exclusion register for online and land-based gambling.
“The Croatian Government has deliberately sidelined both stakeholders and EU institutions,” said Filip Jelavić, secretary general of Croatian gaming association HUPIS. “By failing to notify, it has prevented scrutiny of measures that fundamentally distort competition and harm different segments of the gaming sector. We urge the Commission to carefully assess EUROMAT’s complaint and intervene without delay to ensure that the rule of law and fair market conditions are upheld.”