Croatia has begun phase-1 of implementing gambling reforms pledged by the HDZ government and PM Andrej Plenković.

The roll-out of the ‘Registar Igraca’, the new gambling self-exclusion scheme overseen and managed by HZJZ, Croatia’s Institute of Public Health, commenced this week.

The government proclaims the launch as the beginning of a “new system of coordination” to monitor gambling risks and disorders in Croatia. The Ministry of Finance has been charged with the application of the self-exclusion system across all gambling licences which must adopt them by 1 January 2026.

Phase-1 of the reforms will be initiated during the close of 2025, as cafés, bars, and leisure centres have been ordered by the government to terminate all self-service betting terminals (kladomati).

All gambling venues including arcades, betting shops, and casinos must maintain electronic player verification systems to update customer databases in coordination with local authorities and the Ministry of Finance. Operators will be required to verify each customer’s identity on a one-to-one basis, with staff cross-referencing the Registar Igrača self-exclusion list.

The new rules further specify that “gambling venues will be prohibited from providing external gambling promotions or acting as informal extensions of a gambling network,” a step the government views as crucial to minimising the normalisation of gambling within Croatian society.

External advertising is strictly prohibited, with no outward signs, branding, or promotional materials permitted outside licensed premises.

The reforms form part of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković’s pledge to bring gambling addiction “under control,” addressing what he described as a public-health crisis affecting more than 40,000 Croatians.

Research by the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) shows that 73% of high-school students have gambled at least once, with 13% already showing signs of problem behaviour, a trend prevalent among young men.

State Secretary, Tereza Rogić Lugarić, described the initiative as a turning point for Croatian policy: “Technological progress has made gambling too accessible, too fast. These reforms are about restoring balance — ensuring that gambling in Croatia is conducted with transparency, responsibility, and genuine regard for public welfare.”

EUROMAT challenge

From 1 January 2026, Croatia will implement the full scope of the HDZ government’s gambling reforms, including a nationwide advertising curfew banning gambling promotions between 6am and 11pm, alongside a new tax framework introducing a tiered levy on player winnings and increased annual licensing fees for operators.

Reforms are proceeding despite growing opposition from industry stakeholders and a potential legal challenge at EU level. The Croatian Association of Gambling Operators (HUBPS) has warned that the measures could jeopardise between 14,000 and 15,000 jobs, disproportionately affecting small, local operators.

Meanwhile, EUROMAT continues to urge the European Commission (EC) to intervene, insisting that the HDZ government failed to notify Brussels of major amendments to the Gambling Act before they took effect.

The challenge argues that, under EU law, member states are required to submit draft technical regulations that could affect the single market, allowing other countries and stakeholders to assess potential trade barriers or market distortions.

With the Registar Igrača now operational and Phase-1 enforcement underway, the Plenković government positions Croatia as the first Balkan country to integrate public-health oversight, financial control, and regulatory reform into a unified gambling control system.

In a supporting statement, the Ministry of Finance outlined the reform’s long-term objectives:

“The 2025 reforms represent a new phase of socially responsible regulation. They protect players, reduce exposure to gambling, and bring the sector in line with European standards of accountability.

“By 2026, all gambling licences will be fully integrated into a comprehensive national regulatory framework, enabling the state to better monitor, tax, and regulate gambling in the interest of public health and fiscal transparency.”