Slovak Parliament Passes New Gaming Law Tightening Regulations and Expanding Lottery Operator’s Role

After seven days of deliberation during its 40th parliamentary session, Slovak MPs have approved a new gaming law aimed at strengthening gambling regulation and increasing state revenue from the industry. The legislation was passed with 71 votes in favor and seven abstentions.

The newly approved law introduces stricter rules regarding gambling contributions and seeks to establish clearer operational standards for lotteries and casinos. Under the new framework, Tipos, Slovakia’s national lottery operator, gains the authority to take over casino licences from other operators and conduct offshore operations. However, the ruling stipulates that if necessary, Tipos must relocate any casino activity into hotels within a 12-month period.

The legislation also mandates that Tipos contribute at least €500,000 (approximately $581,540) each year to programs focused on preventing gambling addiction. Furthermore, any new casino locations will now require municipal approval, with the added condition that operations remain within the same municipality to prevent relocations to restricted zones.

Meanwhile, a separate proposal that aimed to eliminate certain provisions from the bill was rejected by lawmakers.

The approval comes as Slovakia continues to navigate a balance between its evolving gaming market and deeply rooted religious traditions. Although international gaming suppliers such as Pragmatic Play, Greentube, and CT Interactive operate in the country, Slovakia has also demonstrated its sensitivity to religious events. Following the death of Pope Francis, the nation imposed a one-day gambling ban on 26 April 2025 as part of an official day of mourning. The Slovakian Gambling Regulatory Authority confirmed that all land-based gaming operations were suspended between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

However, it is noteworthy that the ban did not extend to online gaming or lottery operations, which continued uninterrupted during the period of mourning.

By fLEXI tEAM