According to data issues by the Urad pre Reguláciu Hazardných Hier (URHH), Slovakia’s gambling authority, the country has experienced a boom in online gambling and marked a 30% increase when compared to the previous year.
More specifically, total player spending in Slovakia reached a hefty $26.3 billion(€24.2 billion), with online gaming platforms reaching record-breaking revenues, while land-based establishments registered a substantial decline due to ongoing regulatory changes.
Online gambling in Slovakia reached new heights, with revenue from this sector going up by 30% to $517 million (€476 million). Martin Bohoš, the General Director of URHH, said that the reason for this surge can be attributed to technical advancements in the digital gaming sector, improved regulations, and changing consumer habits.
In his own words, Bohoš stated that “technological innovation and effective state regulation” are two key factors that played a pivotal role in shaping the iGaming ecosystem of the country.
Regardless of the poor performance, land-based casinos still made for a healthy chunk of the total gambling revenue, with the URHH reporting that Slovak players gambled $522 million (€481 million) in these establishments.
Moreover, the gambling sector made a major economic contribution as well, with the state regulator reporting tax revenues from this sector rising to $377 million (€347.3 million) by 15%. Online casinos were the biggest contributor, as they paid $137 million (€126.1 million) in taxes, which is a 35% increase when compared to the previous year.
2024 was also a successful year for the URHH when it comes to battling illegal operators, as the Slovak gambling authority blacklisted 89 black market gambling websites, bringing the total of blocked platforms to over 820.
This report shows that Slovakia is seriously moving toward a digital gambling landscape, which is why many industry experts predict an even bigger growth in the years to come, but only by a balanced regulatory and responsible gambling oversight.
