Croatia is known not only for its snow-white beaches and picturesque resort towns but also for its well-developed gambling industry. It occupies an important place in the structure of the state economy, attracts foreign capital, and creates thousands of jobs.
The Casino Market company will tell you about the characteristics and benefits of working in Croatia, as well as the nuances of launching and promoting an iGaming resource.
General Information about the Country
Croatia is located in southern Europe and is a member of the EU, NATO, and the OSCE. The area of the state is 56,594 square kilometres, and its capital is Zagreb. The jurisdiction occupies most of the Balkan Peninsula and has mountainous terrain and access to the Adriatic Sea.
Beautiful landscapes, healing springs, and ancient architecture make Croatia one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the EU. About 15% of the country's GDP is accounted for by this sphere, second only to engineering, the chemical industry, and the commercial real estate sector.
The local economy is characterised by stable growth and active attraction of foreign capital. In 2019, the IMF program was launched to reduce government spending. The per capita GDP here is $42,500. This is one of the highest rates in the world.
The jurisdiction is home to more than 4.1+ million people. They are mostly Croatians who speak their native language. Among national minorities, we can distinguish Serbs, Bosnians, Czechs, and Italians.
In 2024, the state entered the Eurozone, although the transition process is expected to be completed only by the end of the year. So far, the official currency of the country is the Croatian Kuna (HRK).
The History of the Gambling Market
Croatia was one of the first Eastern Bloc nations to legalise the niche. Casino and sports betting sectors have been operating since the 1960s. Over the past 60 years, the industry has undergone many changes, has become the locomotive of the local economy, and has brought multi-million dollar incomes to investors.
Stages of development of the industry:
| Year | Events |
| 1991 | Appearance of the gambling sphere. After Croatia became independent in 1991, its authorities legalised sportsbook entertainment and allowed local entrepreneurs to register their private companies. Such providers as Sport Tip and Prva Sportska Kladionica were the first to enter the market. Today, these brands dominate the betting sector in Croatia |
| 1995 | Opening of the first land-based casinos. These are large entertainment complexes, where, in addition to gambling halls with slot machines, visitors can visit SPA centres, hotels, restaurants, and lounge areas. Such enterprises were designed mostly for tourists from Western Europe who enjoyed spending time at the card tables and playing slots |
| 2010 | Adoption of a resolution on interactive games in online casinos. The document regulated the work of iGaming sites whose activities had not been controlled before and which were actually in a grey area. Unlike offline locations, customers of digital platforms were primarily locals |
| 2013 | The country's accession to the European Union. Most of the legal acts have been implemented in accordance with EU requirements. The changes affected payment transactions on the Web, advertising of gambling entertainment, penalties for allowing minors to enter casinos, and other aspects |
| 2014 | Adoption of the new law on gambling. The authorities have streamlined the work of offline and digital casinos, bookmakers’ offices, sports bars, poker rooms, and platforms that sell lottery tickets. Modernisation of the legislation has opened access to the Croatian market for many European providers. Thus, in 2017, the Novomatic AG Austrian company opened the Grand Casino Admiral in Zagreb. Currently, it is the largest entertainment complex in Europe with a total area of 3,000 square metres |
Features of Regulation of the Sector
Gambling in the country is divided into 4 categories:
- lotteries and bingo;
- instant games (bets in casinos and scratch cards);
- wagering on sports events and eSports competitions;
- slots and video poker.
The organisation of lottery draws was handed over to a local monopolist — the Hrvatska Lutrija company. It also has several online casinos but in this niche, the brand competes with private businesses.
The Croatian Ministry of Finance is responsible for licensing and taxation of the industry.
Let us consider the main features of obtaining a relevant permit:
Separate Certificate for Each Category of Games
Operators can receive all types of permits or choose only one option, for example, they can decide to open a bookmaker's office.
The certificate is valid for 15 years, which makes Croatia an attractive country in relation to the implementation of iGaming projects and business scaling opportunities.
The Ministry of Finance may revoke the licence for the following reasons:
- payment deadline;
- acceptance of bets from minors;
- illegal advertising, and other violations of the law.
Participation in a Government Tender
Electronic auctions are held for the applicants. To obtain a permit, the following documents are required:
- statements of registration of a legal entity, opening a bank account, and registration as a taxpayer;
- information about the key persons of the company (managers, investors, and shareholders);
- data on the software used (games, platform, and settlement services), as well as certificates of conformity for program products.
All documents are sent electronically.
Only those entrepreneurs who have deposited a bank guarantee are allowed to participate in the government tender. It is needed to cover large winnings and pay counterparties (software vendors, hosting providers, and the tax authority) in case of unforeseen circumstances.
The amount of the financial guarantee is $575,500.
The operator's servers must be located in Croatia, and iGaming sites must have the .hr domain. Foreign platforms with a .com address are instantly blocked.
The Minimum Age for Players is 18 Years Old
At the stage of launching an online resource, its owner must describe the methods of used identification applied by him.
The most popular options among entrepreneurs are:
- two-stage verification of documents;
- Bank ID (automatic data exchange between the bank server where the gambler has an account and the casino server);
- authentication via biometrics (for mobile gambling platforms), etc.
The Cost of a Licence and the Fiscal Burden on Business
The amount of the state fee for permit holders is $431,600. Operators annually transfer this sum to the public budget throughout the entire period of validity of the document.
The tax burden depends on the type of activity:
- bookmakers and organisers of lottery draw transfer 5% of GGR (gross gaming revenue);
- entrepreneurs who manage online casino projects — 15%;
- owners of land-based halls with slot machines and card tables — 25%.
Croatia has a tax on winnings. It is paid by operators but all deductions come from the prizes received by gamblers.
Rates of taxation:
| The size of winnings, in thousands of $ | Percentage of deductions, in % |
| Up to $1,4 | 10 |
| $1,4–4,3 | 15 |
| $4,3–7,3 | 25 |
| From $7,3 | 30 |
The Ministry of Finance provides for huge fines for illegal casinos — up to $ 72,200 with the seizure of property. In some cases, the owners of iGaming sites can be sentenced to 8 years in prison.
Advantages of Launching an Online Casino in Croatia
The key benefits of such a decision:
- High interest in bringing a feeling of excitement to the local population. Croats are a cheerful and freedom-loving nation. They love to bet on sports events, play casino games, and participate in lottery draws. Every seventh resident visits an offline gambling hall or digital location at least once a year, and every third regularly places bids.
- The long validity period of the licence. Entrepreneurs get the right to work on the market for 15 years. Thanks to this, it is possible to plan long-term project scaling without fear that in 2–3 years, the permit will be illegally revoked.
- Stable political and economic environment. Croatia is a member of the EU, NATO, and other inter-state associations. All forms of business, such as trade, tourism, and housing construction, are well-developed in the country. Its residents earn enough to spend money in casinos without regret and enjoy the gameplay.
- Low taxes. The fiscal burden in the jurisdiction is not as high as in Western and Northern Europe. This makes Croatia attractive for providers that obtained a licence in the EU. Taxes are an important part of the monthly expenses of any company, so it is worth getting serious about their calculation.
- State support. The government stimulates the growth of the gambling industry in every possible way. The country has 153 land-based casinos located in 62 human settlements. The largest European software vendors are represented in the local market. These are Microgaming, NetEnt, Novomatic, Pragmatic Play, Playtech, and many others.
How to Implement a Profitable iGaming Project in 2024
Let us consider the features of launching an online casino in Croatia:
Mobile Gambling is the Best Choice for Investment
80% of residents have stable access to the Internet, use smartphones with the iOS operating system, or branded equipment from Apple. Most of the territory is covered by a broadband network of LTE or 4G standards, so there are no problems with going online.
68.4% of the population visit instant messengers at least once a day, and 43% of locals regularly spend time on social networks. Facebook and YouTube are considered the most popular platforms in the country.
The launch of a mobile casino will be the best investment in the Croatian gambling market in 2024. A compact website created specifically for smartphones with an adapted design and a large selection of slots will get a huge response from the audience.
It is much easier to manage a mobile casino than to operate a land-based location. Such a project requires smaller start-up costs, and the fiscal burden is also lower.
Traditional Payment Systems
The bulk of the population (70%) prefers to make settlements via bank transfers, while only 11% of residents have e-wallets.
The most popular financial institutions in Croatia:
- Privredna Banka (PBZ);
- Raiffeisenbank Austria Zagreb (RBA);
- Hrvatska Postanska Banka (HPB);
- Zagrebacka Banka;
- Podravska Banka (POBA).
Each bank has its products adapted for mobile devices. The priority areas are fast identification, one-click payment, and transfers with low commissions.
Serving the gambling business is a high-risk task. The availability of a local licence is a prerequisite for working with such organisations.
Original Advertising
The main points that entrepreneurs should consider when promoting their gaming sites in Croatia:
- A wide variety of creative ideas. Players usually respond well to images of resort life since the country has access to the sea and is famous for its tourism sector. Beautiful girls, private yachts, and luxurious villas — all this attracts a broad audience.
- Emphasis on local charm. Customers always pay attention to the colours of the national flag — red, white, and blue. This combination can be safely used when creating a website design. Croats are proud of their natural landscapes and ancient architecture. Many recognisable locations from the Game of Thrones were filmed in this country. Stylistic references to the series will be a profitable move when operators will want to promote their projects.
- Advertising on social networks. The most visited platforms are Facebook, Viber, Telegram, YouTube, and Instagram.
The Main Things about the Prospects of the Gambling Niche in Croatia
All types of casino entertainment are legalised in the country.
- The advantages of working in the market include a stable political and economic environment, high interest among the local population, and a loyal fiscal burden. The permit is issued for 15 years.
- Entrepreneurs obtain the right to provide gambling services by participating in a government tender. It is held by the Croatian Ministry of Finance.
- To issue a licence, it is necessary to provide the regulator with copies of constituent documents, bank statements, and information about both key and related persons. The applicants must confirm the availability of a financial guarantee in the amount of $575,500. The servers of their companies must be located on the territory of the country.
- In 2024, mobile casinos became extremely popular in the Croatian market. The state has a well-developed broadband network according to LTE and 4G standards and is characterised by high penetration of smartphones. Gamblers prefer traditional settlement methods and pay attention to original advertising campaigns.
The Casino Market studio provides assistance in licensing and launching casino projects in Croatia.
From us, you can buy a turnkey iGaming platform with certified slots, as well as reliable financial systems and affiliate services.
We also offer the following useful services:
- connection of the gambling resource under the White Label scheme;
- creation of a Bitcoin casino;
- integration of payment aggregators;
- development of unique HTML5 slots;
- drafting a business plan, and much more.
For all questions, please contact our managers.
Have questions or want to order services?
Contact our consultants:
- e-mail: manager@casino-market.com
- Skype: support.casinosupermarket
- feedback form.
Check the information used to contact us carefully. It is necessary for your safety.
Fraudsters can use contacts that look like ours to scam customers. Therefore, we ask you to enter only the addresses that are indicated on our official website.
Be careful! Our team is not responsible for the activities of persons using similar contact details.
