Almost 10,000 Croats have requested to be excluded from participating in games of chance since the register was formally established in August 2025.
Data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) shows that by 25 May, 9,615 citizens had been added to the register, with almost 90% of requests submitted for permanent exclusion.
Furthermore, a total of 1,536 people applied to be removed from the system after the mandatory cooling-off period had expired.
All licensed organisers of games of chance are connected to the register and required to check the status of players.
State-owned operator Hrvatska Lutrija confirmed to local media that in slot clubs and casinos, players must be identified on entry before they are allowed to participate. In betting shops, identification is required at the point of payment before a wager can be placed.
The same applies to online games. Lottery games, however, are considered to have a low addictive potential and are not subject to mandatory identification requirements.
If an organiser fails to submit information about excluded players to the register or allows a registered person to gamble, they face fines ranging from €6,630 to €66,360 for legal entities, or €660 ($760) to €6,630 for responsible individuals.
Oversight of compliance with these rules is carried out by the Tax Administration.
When asked how many inspections have been conducted and how many irregularities have been identified, the Tax Administration said that supervision is carried out continuously.
Recently, the Balkan Gaming Federation confirmed Croatia as its official headquarters and outlined plans for a coordinated regional response to illegal gambling across the Balkans.
A symposium was recently held at the Vrapče Psychiatric Clinic in Croatia, presenting new tools for treating gambling addiction developed through the EU Erasmus+ project “Play Your Cards Right”
