Montenegro will review measures to protect minors and young people from gambling as part of cooperation between the Olympic Committee of Montenegro (COK) and the Gambling Authority (UIS).

The initiative was launched at the request of the Government of Montenegro, which obliged the partners to conduct a detailed analysis of the existing restrictions on the participation of minors in gambling, as well as their impact on young audiences.

The memorandum of cooperation was signed by the President of the Olympic Committee Dusan Simonovic and the acting director of UIS Spasoje Papic.

The agencies are to develop a "joint action plan" including new rules, standards and methods aimed at promoting responsible gambling and reducing risks for young people.

The document also provides for joint seminars and lectures in schools, sports clubs and universities to analyze the impact of gambling on young people. In addition, it is planned to study the level of advertising and promotional impact of gambling on social networks and online platforms.

The agencies will provide an annual report on the implementation of the agreed initiatives: “The memorandum is an important step in developing cooperation between the sports industry and the relevant gambling regulatory agencies. It demonstrates a commitment to working together to create a safer and healthier environment for young people.”

Updates and reforms in 2024

In 2024, the Montenegrin government amended its gambling laws to tighten regulation. In particular, annual license fees for land-based casinos were increased from €50,000 to €100,000 ($53,980 to $107,960), and a flat 10% “base tax” (revenue from games minus payouts) on online gambling licenses was introduced for online gambling.

While Montenegro's licensees agreed to the tax increase, the sector opposed a government order to limit online payments to prepaid methods, which banned the use of mobile banking, IPS and electronic banking payments for online customers.

At the initiative of the trade association MontenegroBet , which pointed out technical shortcomings and possible negative consequences for business, this restriction was lifted.

Following the intervention of the Ministry of Finance, the government approved a strategy for modernising gambling legislation for 2024–2027.

The main objective of the strategy is to develop the “Montenegro Gambling Law” aimed at creating a safe and responsible gaming environment, ensuring sustainable growth of the industry without financial crimes, and solving social and public problems related to gambling.

At the end of 2024, the Ministry of Finance instructed relevant authorities and stakeholders to submit proposals for the creation of a new regulatory framework for gambling.

Protecting young people is a top priority

The project is led by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Jovana Nišavić, who stressed that since Montenegro's independence from Serbia in 2006, the country has not had a single, mandatory gambling law.

Agencies have been asked to make the protection of minors and young people a top priority in order to minimise the risks associated with gambling and addiction.

Political concern about this issue is growing in light of data presented by the state institution Kakarichka Gora . According to their report, the number of people seeking treatment for gambling addiction has increased significantly: if in 2019 patients with such a problem accounted for 19%, then by September 2024 this figure had risen to 43%. This indicates a growing trend of gambling addiction spreading among the population.

Authorities urgently need to review measures to protect young people from gambling, as there are concerns about a possible link between gambling addiction and youth unemployment, which stood at 27% nationwide in 2023.

Source