The Slovakian Gambling Regulatory Authority (URHH) has reported notable growth in the country’s online gambling sector, with revenue increasing by 30% to nearly €476 million ($516.5 million) in 2024. Meanwhile, overall gambling revenue across all verticals reached €1.45 billion ($1.57 billion), marking a 9.6% increase from the previous year. The total amount wagered by players in Slovakia reached €24.2 billion ($26.26 billion), an 11% rise compared to 2023.
URHH’s annual report, released on March 11, highlighted the shifting dynamics within Slovakia’s gambling industry. Online gambling continued to outpace land-based gaming, with players spending €12.18 billion ($13.22 billion) online in 2024. Of this, €11.7 billion ($12.70 billion) was returned in winnings.
Martin Bohoš, director general of URHH, attributed the growth to evolving consumer behavior, innovations in digital services, and effective state regulation. “The largest market share is still held by online casinos,” Bohoš said.
While online gambling saw notable expansion, the land-based sector generated €480 million ($520.84 million) in revenue, with gambling rooms accounting for €340 million ($368.93 million) and casinos contributing €140 million ($151.91 million). However, URHH predicted that land-based gaming revenue will decline in 2025 due to stricter regulations imposed by local governments.
The regulator warned that these restrictions could reduce the number of legal gambling establishments, potentially driving players toward unlicensed operations. To address this, URHH highlighted the need for enhanced supervision and more effective mechanisms to curb illegal activities.
In terms of player losses, Slovakian gamblers lost €481 million ($521.93 million) in land-based establishments, exceeding online losses by €5 million. The government also saw increased revenue from gambling taxation, collecting €347.3 million ($376.85 million) in 2024, a 15% rise from the previous year.
However, tax revenue from gambling rooms dropped by 5% to €58.95 million ($63.97 million). In contrast, contributions from casino gambling increased by 26% to €16.4 million ($17.80 million), while online casino tax revenue surged by 35% to €126.1 million ($136.83 million). Numerical lotteries also saw a 9% rise, bringing in €47.6 million ($51.65 million) in tax revenue.
Slovakia’s regulatory framework for online gambling has been in place since March 1, 2019, allowing international operators to apply for sports betting and casino licenses. As part of ongoing enforcement efforts, URHH added 89 new websites to its list of prohibited gambling platforms in 2024, bringing the total number of banned sites to 820.
A specialized online gaming division, established in 2022, continues to focus on identifying and restricting access to illegal gambling operations. URHH is preparing to introduce stronger regulatory mechanisms to mitigate the impact of illegal gambling and ensure consumer protection.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/03/13/98059-slovakias-gambling-revenue-rises-as-online-market-expands-in-2024
