Just as different regulations apply to gambling within the EU, Eastern European states also enjoy a certain degree of autonomy when it comes to regulating iGaming. An analysis of European online casinos can be found at italianicasino.com/casino-online-europei . This means that neighbouring countries may have very different legislations and in some jurisdictions online gambling may be completely banned. If you are a gambler or casino enthusiast living in the region, you need to know what the legal situation is in your country of residence. Although this beautiful country is perhaps best known for its hot springs, goulash and paprika, Hungary has a rich gambling history dating back hundreds of years. While the domestic land-based/online gambling market was subject to prohibitive regulation under a state monopoly, after new legislation was passed in 2013, under pressure from EU lobbyists, the floodgates were opened. Today, both land-based and online casinos are legal in Hungary and the country has a more liberal approach to iGaming than many of its central European neighbours. Domestic and offshore gambling operators have been active in the country since 2017. Poland has had a rather interesting relationship with gambling over the years: although there has been little regulation since joining the EU in 2004, there has been a complete ban on most forms of online gambling. Currently, unlicensed online gambling (including with offshore casino operators) is illegal in Poland. The only form of legal online gambling permitted in the country is sports betting, and players can play online casinos within the country via the State Monopoly website. Slovakia is another country that has had a turbulent relationship with online gambling legislation, as it only established its market in the 1990s. Despite growth in the 2000s, the domestic industry slowed considerably in 2016, when new legislation was passed banning Slovak players from using offshore or international online casinos. After a decline in the industry and a brief period of state monopoly on gambling, offshore operators were welcomed back into the country with the passing of gambling legislation in 2019. Since then, the industry has grown at a moderate pace, although offshore operators have been slower than expected to apply for licences. The online gambling industry in the Czech Republic has been booming since the 2017 law allowed offshore operators to apply for a licence. The Czech gambling industry, one of the fastest growing markets in the Central European region, is experiencing unprecedented growth, generating a total turnover of EUR 1.36 billion in 2019. The relative lack of investment by offshore online casino operators (compared to local services) is due to the high taxation of technical games such as slot machines, roulette and blackjack (the rate is 35 per cent) and the fact that offshore operators are required to make large deposits of EUR 1.15 million for each type of game offered.
Hungary
Poland
Slovakia
Czech Republic