The draft of Montenegro’s new gambling law, which proposes stricter taxes and advertising bans, could severely impact the gambling industry and the country’s economy, according to experts. Lucija Anđelić-Kukuljac, from the Montenegro Bet Association, warns that the law could lead to the loss of thousands of jobs, a drop in public revenue, and a shift of players to the black market. Instead of generating an expected 50 million euros in annual revenue, the government might only see 20 million euros.
Anđelić-Kukuljac points to Spain’s recent Supreme Court ruling, which overturned a ban on gambling ads, as a crucial precedent for Montenegro. She argues that the Montenegrin government must align its laws with EU standards that promote free markets and responsible advertising, rather than relying on bans. The association has suggested that the current tax burden on the industry could lead to a 5-10 times higher fiscal load than in neighboring countries, and warns that excessive taxation could push gambling activities underground.
The proposed law’s restrictions on e-banking and advertising are seen as discriminatory and harmful to Montenegro’s advertising sector, which has contributed significantly to public revenues. Anđelić-Kukuljac stresses that the government’s approach violates EU and Montenegrin constitutional principles of free business, potentially destabilizing the legal gambling market and pushing more players to unregulated foreign sites.
The Montenegro Bet Association has already submitted proposals to modify the law, including suggestions to eliminate taxes on gambling winnings and ease restrictions on digital payments. Anđelić-Kukuljac emphasizes that without a sustainable tax system, the legal gambling industry in Montenegro will struggle to survive, risking the loss of over 3,000 direct jobs and more than 5,000 indirect ones.
The association is also organizing a public discussion on November 12 to further address concerns about the draft law, and has gathered over 46,000 signatures in support of changes, particularly in the areas of e-banking and tax reform.
In summary, the proposed gambling law could have serious economic consequences for Montenegro, with job losses, reduced public revenue, and an expansion of the black market unless key adjustments are made to the draft law.
