Serbia online gambling approval
A regulated Balkan market where a Serbian company can be approved for online betting, casino, live casino and slots for 10 years. The 2024 amendments added bonus, self-exclusion and player verification rules, and let the regulator block unlicensed sites through internet and payment providers.
- Best for
- Operators targeting the Serbian betting and casino market
- Who can be licensed
- B2C operators
- Markets it serves
- Serbia
Serbia licenses online gambling through an approval from the Games of Chance Administration, part of the Ministry of Finance, under the Law on Games of Chance (2020, amended in 2024). The applicant must be a Serbian company with gambling as its main activity, at least €250,000 paid-in capital, a deposit or bank guarantee in a Serbian bank, and a database or mirror server in Serbia. The approval covers sports betting, online casino, live casino and slots for 10 years; online poker against other players is banned. Operators pay a 15% levy on stakes minus winnings, and unlicensed foreign sites are blocked at IP and payment level.
- Status
- Licensing open
- Regulator
- Uprava za igre na sreću
- Legal basis
- Law on Games of Chance
- Status checked
- October 16, 2026
What can be licensed online
Private operators are approved for special games of chance by electronic communication. Classic games such as lottery are reserved to the state.
Online approval
One approval for sports betting, online casino, live casino and online slots, valid for 10 years and renewable on request.
Online poker
Online games where players compete against each other, such as Texas hold’em, are banned since the 2024 amendments.
Lottery and bingo
Classic games such as lottery, lotto, bingo and sports pools are reserved to the National Lottery of Serbia.
Foreign licenses
Not recognized. Foreign operators without an approval can be cut off through IP blocking and payment blocking.
Who can hold a Serbian approval
| Requirement | Under the Law on Games of Chance |
|---|---|
| Legal form | Legal entity seated in Serbia with gambling as its main registered activity; no branch route, but a foreign group can own the company |
| Share capital | €250,000 paid in cash, kept for the whole approval |
| Deposit | A special-purpose deposit or bank guarantee at a bank seated in Serbia, kept for the whole approval |
| People | Non-conviction certificates for the company, owners, beneficial owner and appointed persons, renewed every year by 30 June |
| Ownership changes | Every new shareholder needs the Administration’s prior consent, decided within 30 days |
| Website | One website and one brand per approval |
Technical and player rules
Certification
The system and games are certified by a laboratory authorized by the Minister of Finance before use, with a supplementary certificate for every change.
Servers
Databases or a mirror server on Serbian territory; the production system may be hosted elsewhere.
Regulator link
A real-time data link to the Administration over a private VPN, and transaction records kept for at least ten years.
Player verification
Age and identity verification at registration, under the 2025 player verification rulebook.
Self-exclusion
A central self-exclusion record since June 2025: accounts are disabled immediately and new registrations checked; self-exclusion lasts at least 24 hours or is permanent.
Bonuses
Bonuses are paid only through a separate promotional account and cannot be withdrawn directly; winnings can move to the player’s account.
How the application runs
The law sets no fixed decision deadline; plan for 3–6 months including company setup and certification. Operations must start within 120 days of approval.
- 1Company and capitalSerbian company with gambling as its main activity, €250,000 paid-in capital and the deposit or bank guarantee.
- 2DocumentsOwnership to beneficial owner, non-conviction certificates, game rules, player-protection study, premises and financial statements.
- 3Technical setupLaboratory certificate, database or mirror server in Serbia and the real-time link to the Administration.
- 4ApprovalReview by the Games of Chance Administration and approval for 10 years.
- 5Go-liveStart operating within 120 days of approval, with verification, self-exclusion and reporting in place.
Ongoing obligations
- Monthly levy and five monthly returns by the 5th of the following month
- Prior consent for new shareholders; ownership and key-person changes notified within three days
- Annual non-conviction certificates by 30 June
- Player verification, central self-exclusion checks and deposit limits
- Bonuses only through a promotional account
- AML/CFT duties, including customer due diligence from €2,000
- Renewal requested at least 90 days before the approval expires
How online gambling is taxed
Gaming levy
15% of the monthly base (stakes minus winnings paid), with a statutory monthly minimum; 25% for live-broadcast games played against the operator.
Filing
Five monthly returns filed electronically by the 5th of the following month.
Corporate tax
15% corporate income tax; organizing games of chance is exempt from VAT.
Players
Winnings from licensed betting and casino games are tax-free for players.
Advertising and enforcement
Advertising
Licensed operators may advertise with warnings on minors and addiction; no outdoor ads within 100 meters of schools and health institutions, and no misleading claims about winning.
Sponsorship
Sports sponsorship is allowed; sponsoring children or minors is not. A 2025 government bill to restrict advertising further has not become law.
Blocking
The Administration can order telecom operators to block the IP addresses of unlicensed foreign operators and banks to block their payments; an appeal does not suspend the order.
Penalties
Organizing gambling without approval is a criminal offense; misdemeanor fines for companies run from RSD 100,000 to RSD 2,000,000.
Serbia is not an EU member state. EU licenses are not recognized, and Serbian approvals do not give access to EU markets.
Ask about your caseFrequently asked questions
Who regulates online gambling in Serbia?
The Games of Chance Administration (Uprava za igre na sreću), an administrative body within the Ministry of Finance, under the Law on Games of Chance of 2020.
Can a foreign company get a Serbian online license?
Only through a Serbian company. The approval holder must be a legal entity seated in Serbia with gambling as its main activity; a branch cannot apply, but a foreign group can own the company.
What does the Serbian online approval cover?
Sports betting, online casino, live casino and online slots for players in Serbia. Online poker between players is banned, and lottery is reserved to the National Lottery.
How much capital is required?
€250,000 share capital paid in cash, plus a special-purpose deposit or bank guarantee at a Serbian bank, both kept for the whole approval.
How long is the approval valid?
Ten years. Renewal must be requested at least 90 days before expiry and is not automatic.
Do servers have to be in Serbia?
A database or mirror server must be on Serbian territory. The production system can be hosted elsewhere, with a real-time link to the Administration.
How is online gambling taxed in Serbia?
Through a monthly levy of 15% of stakes minus winnings, with a statutory minimum, plus 15% corporate income tax. Winnings from licensed betting and casino games are tax-free for players.
Can a Malta-licensed operator serve Serbian players?
No. Foreign licenses are not recognized, and the Administration can order IP and payment blocking of unlicensed operators.
Are bonuses allowed in Serbia?
Yes, but since the 2024 amendments they must be paid through a separate promotional account, and bonus funds cannot be withdrawn directly.
How long does it take?
There is no statutory deadline for the decision. With company setup, certification and the server, plan for 3–6 months; operations must start within 120 days of approval.
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