Croatia Launches National Player Register for Safer Gambling
Croatia’s government has launched a new centralized player registry system, Registar Igrača, operated by the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), marking a major milestone in the country’s overhaul of gambling regulation. The register officially went live this week and will form the foundation of a broader set of reforms aimed at reducing gambling-related harm and enhancing state oversight.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković described the rollout as the start of a “new coordination system”, emphasizing that it will integrate public health protection with gambling supervision for the first time. The Ministry of Finance now has until 1 January 2026 to ensure that every licensed operator is connected to the database.
From Oversight to Prevention: A Public Health Pivot
Under the new framework, all gambling operators ( including casinos, betting shops and gaming arcades ) must implement electronic ID verification systems linked directly to the national player register. Staff will be required to confirm player identities and screen them against the exclusion list before granting access to any gambling activity.
The Finance Ministry confirmed that self-service betting terminals (kladomati) located in cafés, bars and other public venues will be phased out by the end of 2025. Additionally, operators will face new restrictions on advertising, including a total ban on outdoor signage and street-level promotions.
Officials say the objective is to “de-normalize” gambling in everyday spaces, reducing its visibility and shielding minors from exposure.
Tereza Rogić Lugarić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, called the initiative “a turning point for Croatia’s gambling policy”, adding:
“This is about restoring balance ensuring gambling operates transparently, responsibly and with genuine care for public health.”
Addressing a Growing Public Health Crisis
Data from the HZJZ highlights a worrying trend: nearly 73% of Croatian high school students have gambled at least once and 13% already show signs of problematic behavior predominantly among young men.
Prime Minister Plenković warned that gambling addiction now represents “a public health crisis” affecting over 40,000 citizens. He pledged that the reforms will introduce “real control and stronger social protections” to reverse these patterns.
Next Steps: Stricter Rules and Full Integration by 2026
The second phase of the reform, due in January 2026, will introduce a nationwide ban on gambling advertising between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., alongside a tiered tax system for player winnings and higher annual license fees for operators.
However, the changes have met industry resistance. The Croatian Association of Gambling Operators (HUBPS) has warned that as many as 15,000 jobs could be at risk, particularly among small and mid-sized local operators.
Meanwhile, EUROMAT, the European Gaming and Amusement Federation, has called for the European Commission to review the reforms, claiming Croatia failed to notify Brussels of potential impacts on the EU single market.
A Regional First for the Balkans
With Registar Igrača fully operational, Croatia becomes the first Balkan nation to integrate public health oversight, financial monitoring, and gambling regulation within a unified system.
The Ministry of Finance has hailed the development as “a new phase of socially responsible regulation”, saying the initiative will improve player protection, strengthen transparency and align national legislation with broader EU accountability standards.
By 2026, every gambling license in Croatia will be linked to the register, a move the government believes will usher in “greater integrity, financial transparency and safer gambling nationwide.”
