The Latest Amendments to Montenegro’s Law on Games of Chance
Montenegro has made recent amendments to its Law on Games of Chance to establish a sustainable regulatory system for online gambling and generate additional revenue. The changes came into effect on 1 January 2024.
To achieve these objectives, several amendments have been implemented:
1. Clear definition of online gambling and telecommunication means.
2. Ban on participating in foreign games of chance within Montenegro, including internet betting. Access to foreign gaming websites is restricted, IP addresses are blocked, and payments to foreign organizers are prohibited. A list of unapproved online gaming organizers is published.
3. Increase in annual fixed fee per casino to EUR 100,000 and variable fee for organizing games of chance in casinos to 15% of the base.
4. Prohibition on organizing games in residential-commercial buildings.
5. New regulatory framework for online gambling, including player registration and identification, payment of the variable concession fee, and the requirement to use payment cards for online gambling.
These amendments have faced criticism, particularly regarding Article 68f, which mandates payments for online gambling to be made through payment cards or at physical premises. A petition with over 25,000 signatures and an initiative to repeal Article 68f have been submitted. The Constitutional Court of Montenegro is also reviewing the constitutionality of the article.
The competent authorities are currently considering these initiatives, and legal experts and the public eagerly await further developments.
Source: schoenherr.eu
