Government prepares measures against gaming operators who disregard laws

The third session of the Coordination Body for the Protection and Enhancement of Public Interest in the Field of Games of Chance was held, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Judiciary, and Anti-Corruption Momo Koprivica. Several significant conclusions were reached during the session.

Alarming indicators of the number of transactions and the amount of money transferred to foreign illegal websites underscore the state of affairs in the gaming industry. In 2022, there were 132,109 transactions totaling €6,315,019, and in 2023, 133,445 transactions totaling €6,183,943.

Amendments to the Law on Games of Chance, adopted in December 2023, defined prohibitions and mechanisms for blocking foreign sites. Concrete measures were defined during the Coordination Body session to effectively implement these bans, particularly in terms of blocking banking payments to unregistered gaming entities without legal grounds in Montenegro.

Furthermore, a framework was established for joint activities and the formation of joint teams comprising the Games of Chance Administration, relevant inspections, and the Police Directorate to combat all forms of illegal gambling. The goal is to enhance the organisation of work in detecting and prosecuting all forms of illegal activity precisely by involving multiple stakeholders.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation report, a significant number of educational institutions are located in close proximity to gambling facilities, indicating a disregard for legal norms and the need to protect children from economic exploitation, as mandated by the constitution.

As a result, a plan of decisive measures, based on an analysis of actions ranging from license revocation to criminal liability, is being prepared.

Lastly, the formation of an Operational Group tasked with creating recommendations for preventing gambling addiction, particularly among school-age children and youth, to promote healthy lifestyles, was concluded.