By its new Gambling Act (effective as of 1 March 2019), Slovakia intends to better reflect the latest trends in the gaming industry, in particular, online gambling. All gambling licences (with the exception of some lotteries) will be available to operators with their registered seats in EU or EEA member states and the National Lottery Company will lose its monopoly on online gambling. However, given the high amount of the licence fees for online gambling (EUR 2 – 5 million, depending on the type of game for a 10-year licence) the industry is sceptical as to the interest of foreign operators to enter the Slovak market. Furthermore, the betting market will not be opened until 1 July 2020.
The new act establishes a completely new regulator (the Gambling Regulation Authority), sets up a new structure of licences to better reflect the structure of the market, and imposes duties to promote responsible gambling (including the mandatory registration of certain individuals that may not participate in gambling). The new regulation also modifies the taxation of gains from gambling.