Top-rated New gambling sites in Serbia

Serbia has a long gambling history. Despite having existed since the Roman Empire, gambling was first recorded in Serbia in the 1960s, when Serbia was still a part of Yugoslavia. This move was inspired mainly by the potential to raise more revenue from tourists from neighboring European countries.

During the early days, the government had a low opinion of gambling. As a result, only tourists were allowed to gamble, with all Serbs prohibited from visiting any gambling premises or engaging in any form of betting. As a result, this legal position drove most Serbian punters, at the time, into illegal gambling dens.

With most gambling venues in Serbia being illegal till the late 90s, the legal position changed in 2004, following a 'new' legislative act that saw the state monopolize all gambling activities in the country.

Gambling in Serbia nowadays

The Games of Chance Act, enacted in 2011, largely informs the current state of the Serbian betting industry. This new law saw the betting industry, both online and land-based, become regulated. Today, even foreign operators are allowed to apply for a license in Serbia, which comes with some strict requirements, including having offices in the country.

According to the 2011 act, the government can also protect Serbian punters when accessing online casinos. In addition, the Serbian government also blocks unlicensed casino sites, making it a lot easier for players to ascertain the licensing status of any casino.

Key changes in Serbian gambling

A lot has happened in the Serbian betting industry over the years. The liberalization of the gambling industry, especially allowing foreign casino operators, has been instrumental. Besides playing at new gambling sites licensed by Serbian authorities, hundreds of offshore casinos accept Serbian punters. This essentially means offshore casinos accept Serbian payment methods, and some also pay in the Serbian Dinar.

Gambling was introduced in Serbia in the early 1960s following the passing of the Law of Games of Chance in 1962. This law saw the government use gambling as a means to stimulate economic growth in the country using tourism. As such, only foreigners were allowed to enjoy casino games. However, following events in the 90s, the legal situation changed in 2004 after the new Games of Chance Act was passed. This Act further regulated land-based casino gambling and legalized online gambling in the country.

Games of Chance Act

The current Serbian government has been introducing online and land-based gambling legislation. In addition, the Game of Chance Act of 2004, 2011, and 2020 has been instrumental in legalizing gambling in the country. Here is a general overview of each of the three acts.

The Games of Chance Act of 2004

This Act ended the country's dark times when gambling was barely regulated. The 2004 Act, in many ways, curbed underground gambling as it legalized classical games of chance (lotteries), special or other games (casino and sports gambling), internet gambling, and prize competitions. However, the major undoing of this Act is that the State Lottery controlled most gambling activities in the country.

Games of Chance Act of 2011

The Act of 2011 came in to put an end to the state's monopoly on gambling. However, this law also came in to regulate the gambling industry. According to this Act, casino operators targeting the Serbian market were allowed into the local market, albeit with some restrictions, including having servers and offices in the country.

This law also introduced a 5% tax on gross gaming yields. Also, the government bolstered its commitment to curbing underground gambling to avoid an exodus of online casinos.

It is also worth noting that this law stipulates that there can only be a maximum of 10 land-based casinos in the country. Also, the country can host up to 12 licensed online casinos. This law also saw the government block unlicensed foreign casinos through internet service providers.

Games of Chance Act of 2020

The 2020 update on the Act mainly focused on social responsibilities. This meant that the government banned gambling advertisements in the country. Also, minors are not allowed to engage in any form of gambling. Another good thing about this Act is that it clearly set 40% of revenue from gambling to be channeled to the Red Cross of Serbia for charitable causes.

Like punters from other parts of the world, Serbs are always moved by new casino sites that offer bonuses and other casino incentives. Most online casino players love bonuses because they boost their bankroll, extend their stay at the casino, and, most importantly, better their chances of winning. That said, here are some popular new casino bonuses in Serbia.

Welcome bonus

Almost every new online casino in Serbia offers a welcome bonus package. While some casinos provide this bonus to every new player on their site, most casino operators offer it as a match bonus, where a player must make an initial deposit to qualify for a reward up to a certain amount. In addition, welcome bonuses often come with exciting extras, such as free spins for slot players or a promo code for other casino games.

Reload bonus

This bonus is offered to players when they reload their accounts. Also known as a match bonus, this bonus is usually offered as a percentage of the amount deposited. Most new casinos offer several reload bonuses to attract new players and retain existing ones.

Loyalty programs

Some online casinos also run loyalty programs. Although mostly offered to high rollers, these programs are meant to encourage players to keep playing. Loyalty incentives are primarily provided as cashback incentives, where a portion of the amount spent on betting is returned.

As much as a new online casino might seem attractive, a player must pay attention to the wagering requirements and not just the total sum.

Serbia's official language is known as Srpski (Serbian). Therefore, new casinos offering their services to Serbs should be translated into Serbian. However, there are also several languages spoken in the country: Hungarian, Bosnian, Croatian, Romanian, and Slovak. Nevertheless, language should not be a significant concern when playing at any locally licensed casino.