Sports betting is legal and regulated in Croatia under the Games of Chance Act, which comprehensively governs all forms of gambling activities including betting games. The Croatian Ministry of Finance serves as the primary regulatory authority and issues licenses to qualified operators who meet strict requirements for capital, licensing fees, and operational standards (1). Licensed operators can conduct both land-based and online sports betting activities, with online betting available as an extension to existing brick-and-mortar licenses.
Croatia operates a limited licensing system that restricts the number of betting operators to maintain market stability and regulatory oversight. Currently, the government permits a maximum of 20 entities to organize betting games throughout the country, with licenses granted for 15-year periods through competitive tender processes (2). Licensed operators must maintain substantial minimum share capital of approximately €530,891 and provide bank guarantees ranging from €663,614 to €1,990,842 depending on their annual betting volumes.
"Operating gambling in the territory of the Republic of Croatia is the right of the Republic of Croatia and such games may be operated pursuant to the Act, the decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the approval of the Ministry of Finance."
The Croatian government actively enforces its licensing regime by blocking unauthorized foreign gambling sites and imposing significant penalties on unlicensed operators. Recent amendments to the Games of Chance Act, expected to take full effect by 2026, will introduce stricter player identification requirements, enhanced advertising restrictions, and a unified national self-exclusion registry. Licensed betting operators pay substantial fees including annual licensing fees of €132,722 and monthly fees calculated as 5% of total placed bets, with additional online betting authorization fees of €398,168 annually.
Source:
https://www.legal500.com/guides/chapter/croatia-gambling-law/
https://porezna-uprava.gov.hr/en/unauthorized-performing-of-economic-activity-online/7393
Last updated: 15-09-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
