Last year, the total turnover of the gambling industry in North Macedonia reached €2.83bn ($3.33bn), according to data obtained by local media from the Public Revenue Office.
More specifically, slot machines generated €2bn ($2.36bn) in turnover, followed by casinos at €607m ($715m), and sports betting offices with a little over €216m ($254m). While the industry continues to grow, additional recent studies point to increasing levels of gambling engagement among youth in the nation.
Indeed, the Institute for Public Health (IPH) recently presented results from a 2024 study conducted by the European ESPAD initiative in North Macedonia. The study involved 2,831 students from 96 high schools. Research indicates that over the past year, one in four students has participated in gambling for money.
The rate of problematic gambling among those who gamble increased from 4.5% in 2019 to 7.6% in 2024. Civic organisations have expressed concerns about the concentration of gambling venues in urban areas. For instance, mapping conducted by the initiative "Chance for Skopje Centar" identified approximately 60 licensed gambling establishments in Skopje's central area.
Industry stakeholders maintain that regulation, rather than relocating gambling venues, is the optimal strategy. Vasko Ilijevski, President of the Association of Sports Betting Operators in Macedonia, emphasised: “Relocating legal operators does not reduce gambling behaviour; it drives players to illegal, unregulated venues, increasing safety risks. International experience, including in Albania, confirms this.”
In response to these concerns, the Macedonian government is drafting a new Gambling Law. The Government officials stated: “The new Draft Law on Gambling and Entertainment Games aims to establish clearer regulations and greater citizen protection.
“It considers measures such as minimum distance between gambling venues and schools and strengthened controls. It also proposes increased fees, better corporate governance procedures and stricter regulations.”
The current government of North Macedonia shut down online gambling platforms that were established under the previous ruling coalition, with the state-owned "Megawin.mk" being the sole legal platform for online gambling in the country
