In April 2025, the Government of Croatia adopted a series of amendments to its Gambling Act, with most measures taking effect on 1 January 2026. This marks the start of the most strictly regulated phase in the country’s gambling market to date.
The sector is undergoing a structural transformation driven by tighter regulation. While the land-based market is contracting, the online segment is growing, particularly sports betting. Hrvatska Lutrija, the National Lottery, retains a monopoly over lottery products, while licences are available for other gambling verticals.
Industry expansion and fiscal contribution
Prior to the regulatory overhaul, Croatia’s gambling market recorded steady growth in public budget contribution. Data from the Tax Administration shows government income from gambling taxes and fees rising as follows:
· €190.5m ($223.5m) in 2021
· €251.2m in 2022
· €310.7m in 2023
· €354.2m in 2024
· €388m in 2025
Revised taxation and higher licence costs
Following the reforms introduced at the start of 2026, the gambling winnings tax structure (yes, Croatia is one of those countries that taxes players individually) was revised, as follows:
· Up to €100: taxed at 10%, with lottery winnings in
this band remaining exempt
· €100 to €1,500 (including lottery): taxed at 10%
· €1,500 to €4,000: taxed at 15%
· €4,000 to €70,000: taxed at 20%
· Above €70,000: taxed at 30%
Licence fees were also significantly increased by around 50% for both online and land-based casinos, as well as brick-and-mortar betting shops.
Broader regulatory tightening
From 1 January 2026, all operators were obliged to integrate into a national self-exclusion register alongside enhanced identity verification requirements. Advertising rules have been tightened, with gambling ads prohibited between 6am and 11pm across digital and audiovisual media. Print and outdoor advertising in publicly visible areas is fully banned.
Sponsorship remains permitted but is limited to operator branding only, while the use of celebrities and influencers in gambling promotions is prohibited. Additional measures include stricter proximity rules limiting venue locations near schools, student dormitories and places of worship. Betting machines in hospitality venues have also been fully banned from 2026 onwards.
Land-based market contraction
Land-based operators were the first to be affected by the tightened regulatory framework, particularly due to stricter distance requirements. Licences expiring at the end of October 2025 were not renewed under previous conditions, as acquired rights do not extend beyond expiry. This led to the closure of 1,927 betting terminals and 322 betting shops.
Entain also reported that SuperSport’s retail NGR declined by 5%, as the group prepared for stricter retail regulations expected to take effect in 2026, including tighter restrictions on shop locations
From the start of 2026, a further 2,000 betting terminals in hospitality venues were removed, effectively ending betting activity in cafés and bars across Croatia. Several slot hall venues also closed, adding to the broader contraction of the land-based market. And this takes us to...
Accelerated migration to online
Even before the reforms, Croatia’s gambling market was already shifting online. In 2024, Hrvatska Lutrija data showed its online sports bets accounted for around two-thirds of total wagers. Tax Administration data comparing January 2026 with January 2025, based on the operator tax base and excluding the effects of new fees and changes to the winnings tax, further confirms this trend.
The online betting tax base rose 17.8% year-on-year, while land-based betting shops fell 21.1%. The land-based slot machine tax base declined 19.4%. In the casino segment, the total tax base rose 4.9%, with online casinos increasing 2.6% and maintaining market dominance.
Market concentration and leading operators
The Croatian market is highly concentrated, and the two largest operators accounted for more than 60% of total gambling industry profit in 2024. SuperSport, owned by Entain, and Hattrick-PSK, part of Fortuna Entertainment Group, together generated €158.7m in net profit across both land-based and dominant online market.
SuperSport is the clear market leader, with Hattrick-PSK recording a net profit of €43.57m in 2024. Both operators offer retail sports betting and slot machines in betting shops, while their online platforms include sports betting, casino games, slots, virtuals and betting on lotteries.
According to the latest available Tax Administration data from February 2025, there were 12 licensed online operators. While full-year 2025 performance data for Hattrick-PSK is not yet available, SuperSport results are reported below.
Market leader SuperSport 2025 performance
In 2025, Entain reported that the SuperSport brand accounted for 5% of its online net gaming revenue (NGR), reflecting a 9% year-on-year increase. Entain also reported that SuperSport’s retail NGR declined by 5%, as the group prepared for stricter retail regulations expected to take effect in 2026, including tighter restrictions on shop locations. SuperSport delivered a net profit of €114.64m in 2025, a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.47%.