Amendments to the Gambling Act prohibiting the advertising of gambling in the media have been published in the State Gazette. This means that the ban will take effect in three days’ time.

Gambling advertising will now also be banned in public places, including building facades and state and municipal property, except for establishments that have been granted a gambling licence. It will be allowed on “outdoor advertising facilities”, but for no more than 5% of the total advertising area of each billboard owner. It is forbidden to include numbers, so as not to advertise so-called bonuses to attract players.

The amendment to the Gambling Act brings into force an amendment that allows for removal from the register of vulnerable persons maintained by the NRA. This will be done at the personal request of the individual, no earlier than 30 days after the initial entry. Previously, the register did not allow for voluntary deregistration and the minimum length of time a person could remain on the register was two calendar years.

Compliance with the new law will be monitored by the Electronic Media Council, which will refer the matter to the National Revenue Agency, which will impose penalties on offenders.

The amendments stipulate that persons receiving monthly social assistance, persons with mental disorders and persons under guardianship will not be allowed to gamble.

In addition, online betting operators are obliged to take measures to curb behaviour that puts consumers’ health and financial well-being at risk.

To this end, the Ministers of Finance and Health will lay down minimum measures in a regulation. These will include:

• maximum downtime on online betting websites;
• a maximum loss for specified periods, after which the user is temporarily entered on the register of gambling addicts;
• maximum betting limits for certain types of gambling and certain time ranges.

Organizers of gambling games licensed under this Law shall be entitled to sponsor events supporting sports, culture, health, education, social affairs, as well as activities related to prevention and treatment of gambling addicts, subject to the limitations set out in paragraph 1. 1 – 4.

Owners of casinos and gambling halls in towns with a population of less than 10 000 will have three years to close their premises. Only those in resorts and near the borders will keep them.

You can read all the amendments to the Gaming Act here.