Best Online Casinos - Slovenia

When it comes to Slovenia gambling laws, they went through several amendments, and we would say that it is still a work in progress.

Up until 1989, all forms of gambling were prohibited in the country. Once it parted ways with Yugoslavia, its legislators started talking about a possibility to open casinos to the country’s residents. This initiative, however, did not come into place up util the year 1995 when the Gambling Act was introduced. It welcomed lottery, sports betting, and online casinos into the country.

Slovenia is not all that big and after the law was introduced, no more than 15 casinos opened their doors. They attracted not only the locals but also a flood of foreign tourists from nearby countries making the government think about the perspectives of the gambling industry.

In 2013, following Slovenia’s EU integration and the demand of the Union to clarify the country’s policy regarding online gambling, an amended Gaming Act was introduced. Slovenia’s Ministry of Finance was (and still is) in charge of the gambling niche. Plus, it is supervised by Tax Administration.

The amendments of 2013 were meant to clarify online gambling, introduce more flexible regulations, and ensure the growth of the local industry. However, the laws did not do much in terms of any stimulation. No licensing process for online lobbies was introduced while at the same time the state took steps in blocking some foreign operators.

The refreshed Gaming Act also listed penalties for non-licensed websites with games of chance. Criminal sanctions include up to 3 years of imprisonment, as well as heavy fines for anyone who organizes or assists with organizing online gambling.

So, is online casino gaming legal in Slovenia after all? The Gaming Act of 2013 says yes, but only if provided by the licensed land-based casinos that already have a concession for a casino or existing classic lotto games. This leaves the locals with a very limited list of less than 5 virtual platforms.

While we honestly don’t understand why the state would block international operators and at the same time prevent the local businesses from establishing a healthy industry in the country, we can say to all of our Slovenian readers that there are 100s of certified international gaming lobbies out there ready to welcome players from the reviewed country. We especially recommend platforms licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority because this is a solid and reputable permit.