Croatia

Sports betting is legal and licensed in Croatia, both in shops and online, under the Games of Chance Act (Zakon o igrama na sreću). The Ministry of Finance (Ministarstvo financija) is the main regulator, and the Tax Administration (Porezna uprava) handles enforcement, including blocking unlicensed sites. Fixed-odds and totalisator sports betting and horse and dog-race betting all require a local licence, and the minimum age for every form of gambling is 18.

A major reform of the Games of Chance Act is now in full effect. Amendments passed in 2025, with reported unanimous support in parliament in April 2025, and were phased in by early 2026 to tackle gambling addiction. They bring in mandatory central player identification, a national self-exclusion register (launched late 2025 and mandatory from early 2026), a ban on gambling adverts between 6am and 11pm, a ban on self-service terminals in cafés and restaurants, minimum distances from schools, higher licence fees and a more progressive tax.

The reform tightens an already regulated market and doesn't open it to new operators. Prediction markets sit outside every licence category and are treated as prohibited.

Croatian players can bet online without fear of prosecution, as long as they're 18 or older and use a site licensed by the Ministry of Finance. Many international and European gambling sites accept Croatians, but unlicensed sites are now blocked and may simply not load. The Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Activities (HAKOM) plays a key role in enforcing the law by blocking illegal gambling platforms.

Which Betting Sites Can Croatians Use?

Only sites with a Croatian licence can lawfully serve Croatian players. A licence from another European country, such as the UK, Gibraltar or the Isle of Man, isn't a Croatian licence, and sites without one are exactly the ones liable to be blocked.

What Are Croatia's Gambling Laws?

Croatia's online betting market is regulated and well run, though only a few local operators hold licences. Any company that wants to offer remote gaming in Croatia must own a land-based casino or betting business, which keeps the number of licensees low.

Croatia's first internet gambling rules took effect in 2010 with the Ordinance on Interactive Online Casino Gaming, and the 2025 amendments to the Games of Chance Act are the latest overhaul. The rules set out who can offer games online and what's expected of online operators.

The national lottery, Hrvatska Lutrija, runs the largest gambling site based in Croatia, offering table games, slots, poker and bingo. Another major Croatian site, PSK (www.psk.hr), is run by Fortuna Entertainment Group, which bought Hattrick Sports Group (HSG) in 2017. Ireland-based HSG had entered Croatia by buying Prva Sportska Kladionica.

Licensed operators must meet quality standards set by the Ordinance. They have to verify that players are at least 18, keep players' money separate from operating funds and let customers set their own deposit limits. They also have to offer certain withdrawal methods, publish the rules of every game, and submit to government audits and compliance tests.

Player protections are strong, and the government seems intent on keeping things fair for players. The main drawback is how hard it is to get a licence. Without that hurdle, Croatia could easily become a major force in European gaming.

For years, Croatians could also play freely at foreign betting sites. That has changed, and the government now blocks access to unlicensed gambling websites. There are no reports of players being prosecuted for using offshore sites.

Depositing and Withdrawing in Euros

You can deposit, play and withdraw in euros at Croatian betting sites. Croatia replaced the kuna with the euro on 1 January 2023, and domestic sites run by the national lottery and other authorised operators now work in euros.

Offshore sites widely support the euro too, so currency is no longer an obstacle. If you'd rather hold pounds or US dollars, an e-wallet such as Neteller or Skrill can convert your deposits into EUR, GBP or USD and convert any winnings back into euros when you withdraw.