🎰 May I bet and gamble online in Croatia?

With conditions

Quick answer

You may, but only with an operator that holds a Croatian licence, and only once you are 18. Online betting and casino games are legal in Croatia when offered by an operator with a concession from the Ministry of Finance; playing on foreign, unlicensed sites is not allowed. The new Games of Chance Act (NN 72/2025) has applied since 1 May 2025 and introduces mandatory identification of all players, a register of excluded players kept by the public health institute (HZJZ) for self-exclusion, and strict advertising limits. Winnings are taxed in bands: 10 percent from 100 to 1,500 euros, 15 percent from 1,500 to 4,000 euros, 20 percent from 4,000 to 70,000 euros, and 30 percent above 70,000 euros. The myth that any online site is fine and that winnings are tax-free is false - since 2025 banks must block payments to foreign betting sites without a licence, and more than 700 of them have been blocked.

📋 The rules

Online games are legal only with an operator holding a concession from the Ministry of Finance; play is allowed only from age 18.
The new Games of Chance Act (NN 72/2025, in force since 1 May 2025) introduces mandatory player identification and a register of excluded players at HZJZ.
Winnings are taxed in bands: 10 percent (100-1,500 euros), 15 percent, 20 percent and 30 percent above 70,000 euros; the operator withholds the tax.
Since 2025 banks and payment institutions must block payments to foreign betting sites without a Croatian licence; more than 700 sites are blocked.
Gambling advertising is restricted - no celebrities or influencers, and no internet or TV ads between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.

🔓 Exceptions

A lottery win up to 100 euros is tax-free, while a betting win up to 100 euros carries the 10 percent rate.
Promotional prize games and games for fun without a stake are not games of chance for the purpose of winnings tax.
An operator with a concession in Croatia may offer games online; a foreign operator without a licence may not take stakes from Croatian players.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

For the player the biggest risk is not a fine but playing with a foreign operator without a Croatian licence: since 2025 banks and payment institutions must by law block payments to such sites, the winnings sit outside the protected and taxed system, and if the operator refuses to pay out you have no one to complain to. An operator must reject stakes from people under 18 and verify the identity of players. Operators who break the law - accepting stakes from minors, advertising against the rules, working without a concession - face high fines and loss of the concession, on top of annual fees that have been sharply increased. Anyone who recognises a gambling problem can enter the register of excluded players at HZJZ and bar their own access to operators.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Do I pay tax on betting winnings?

Yes, winnings are taxed in bands: 10 percent from 100 to 1,500 euros, 15 percent from 1,500 to 4,000 euros, 20 percent from 4,000 to 70,000 euros, and 30 percent above 70,000 euros. In betting even a win up to 100 euros carries 10 percent, while lottery wins up to 100 euros are tax-free.

May minors bet online?

No, an operator offering games of chance over the internet must reject stakes from people under 18 and carry out identity verification of players. Online play without confirming adulthood is therefore against the law, and the operator bears responsibility for it.

May I play on foreign betting sites?

A foreign operator without a Croatian licence may not take stakes from Croatian players, and since 2025 banks must block payments to such sites. Getting around the block with a VPN leaves you outside the protected system, so in a dispute over a payout you have no protection.

What is the register of excluded players?

It is a register kept by the Croatian Institute of Public Health in which a player can enter to bar their own access to games of chance. Self-exclusion is a protective measure for people who recognise a gambling problem and want to step away from play.

Did the new law change much?

Yes, the 2025 Games of Chance Act introduces mandatory identification of all players, a self-exclusion register and a ban on advertising through celebrities and during part of the day. The aim is more socially responsible operation and curbing illegal foreign betting sites.

🔎 Common searches

What people search to land here:

“online gambling croatia”
“tax on betting winnings”
“foreign betting sites blocked”
“games of chance act 2025”
“betting age 18”
“register of excluded players”