Residents of Slovakia bet €24 billion in 2024
In 2024, the total amount of registered bets in Slovakia totalled €24.2 billion, of which €22.8 billion was paid out as winnings. According to a report by the Slovak Gambling Regulation Authority (Úrad pre reguláciu hazardných hier), the country’s residents spent €1.45 billion on gambling last year, a 9.6% increase from 2023.
Slovakian operators’ tax payments (millions, €)
Source: SiGMA News.
As a result, Slovakia’s state budget revenue from iGaming taxes reached €347.3 million, showing a year-on-year increase of €45.8 million. Compared to 2022, the state’s gambling revenue growth exceeded €90 million (€251.9 million for 2022).
Online casinos have the largest market share
According to estimates by Martin Bohoš (pictured), Director General of the Gambling Regulatory Authority, online casinos still hold the largest market share. This segment recorded a year-on-year revenue growth of 30% to €476 million, of which €126 million were contributions to the state budget, showing an increase of 35%. According to Bohoš’s comment, ‘the significant growth is due to innovation in digital services, changes in consumer behaviour and effective regulation by the government.’
Speaking about the ratio of bets to payouts, Bohoš noted that Slovakians spend more in the land-based sector. In the past year, player spending here totalled €481 million – €5 million more than at online casinos. As a result, traditional casinos continue to hold a stable position in the country’s gambling market with revenues of €340 million, despite the decline in all indicators.
The Authority continues to actively monitor and crack down on online operators without a valid licence, having blocked 89 sites in the past year. In total, more than 820 online platforms offering illegal gambling are restricted in Slovakia.
Positive dynamics of sports betting and lotteries
In 2024, the turnover of bookmakers in Slovakia also increased. This was influenced by major sporting events such as the EURO 2024 and the Olympic Games in Paris. In this segment, punters lost €313 million. In turn, the state budget received almost €87 million in tax revenues from betting, an 8% increase year-on-year.
Number lotteries played a notable role in the state’s revenue last year. Tax payments by lottery operators in Slovakia totalled €47.7 million in 2024, up 9.3% from 2023.
What awaits the Slovak gambling market in 2025
According to the assumptions of the national regulator, in 2025, the revenues of operators in the land-based segment may decrease due to stricter regulations by the local authorities. At the same time, the Authority fears that this situation may lead to a shift of players to the illegal market. This can only be prevented by the introduction of more effective mechanisms to suppress illegal activities.
The main priority for the coming year for the Authority is to develop modern regulatory mechanisms to ensure the protection of players and the stable development of the licensed gambling market in Slovakia. ‘Every year, we monitor new attempts to circumvent regulation and take measures to eliminate them. Our task is to ensure that players have access to a safe and transparent gaming environment provided by legally licensed operators,’ concluded Bohoš.
This article was first published in Russian on 19 March 2025.
