The European Gambling and Amusement Federation, known as EUROMAT, has officially lodged a complaint with the European Commission. This action follows Croatia’s failure to inform the Commission about amendments made to its Gambling Act, along with the related regulations that have emerged as a result.
EUROMAT’s complaint highlights concerns over transparency and compliance with EU regulations in the gambling sector, emphasizing the importance of proper notification procedures for any legislative changes.
“The amended Gambling Act introduces far-reaching technical rules affecting access and provision of services on the Croatian gambling market, including mandatory player identification systems, strict limitations on the location and layout of gambling venues, a comprehensive ban on online and social-media advertising, temporal restrictions on operation and a central player self-exclusion register,” Euromat stated within the release.
“At the same time, by providing benefits from exemptions and regulatory privileges, the law creates an uneven playing field, to the detriment of certain segments of the gambling sector.”
Four implementing regulations introduced
As part of the adoption of the Gambling Act, four implementing regulations have been put in place, each containing detailed technical rules that expand on the measures outlined in the new law.
However, these regulations were not reported to the European Commission, despite the requirement for Member States to notify the Commission of any draft laws or regulations that could influence market access, service provision, or impose mandatory technical standards.
This lack of notifcation raises concerns about compliance with EU obligations, as the failure to report such changes undermines the transparency necessary for effective oversight within the gambling sector.
“This complaint marks an important first step in the EU’s legal process. Complaints such as that filed by Euromat are a key tool to alert the Commission to potential breaches of EU law. Based on Euromat’s complaint, the European Commission will be able to assess the evidence and decide on the next steps, including whether to open infringement proceedings against Croatia,” Euromat President Jason Frost said.
“The notification procedure exists to ensure that national measures are compatible with the principles of the Single Market. Croatia’s decision to ignore this obligation not only breaches EU law; it also threatens legal certainty for businesses across Europe. The Commission must act decisively to uphold the integrity of the internal market.”
CGA ignored “repeated warnings”
Despite receiving “repeated warnings” from EUROMAT, the Croatian Gaming Association (Hupis) and the European Commission moved forward with amendments to the Gambling Act and the related regulations without meeting their obligations.
EUROMAT expressed serious concerns about this blatant disregard for established procedures, warning that such actions could set a troubling precedent for how other Member States operate.
“The Croatian Government has deliberately sidelined both stakeholders and EU institutions. By failing to notify, it has prevented scrutiny of measures that fundamentally distort competition and harm different segments of the gaming sector. We urge the Commission to carefully assess Euromat’s complaint and intervene without delay to ensure that the rule of law and fair market conditions are upheld,” Hupis Secretary General Filip Jelavi said.
The organization emphasized that if one entity can ignore the rules that all others must follow, it raises significant questions about the integrity of the regulatory framework within the EU.
Source: GamblingInsider