BDK Advokati on Gaming regulation in Montenegro

BDK Advokati contributed to the latest edition of Chambers and Partners Practical guide on Gaming. The chapter on Montenegro is authored by Luka Popović, partner and Stefan Đurović, junior associate in BDK Advokati Montenegro.

The chapter offers a detailed account of licencing and regulatory framework applicable to the gaming industry in Montenegro, such as the types, availability, duration of, and procedures to obtain, licenses. The authors also write about the most recent trend in the gaming industry in Montenegro, such as social gaming, eSports, fantasy sports and skill gaming. The chapter explains recent changes in the legislation, such as the ban on further issuance of licences for installing betting terminals at cafes, restaurants, and other hospitality facilities, and gives an overview of the new gambling legislation in the pipeline.

The chapter concludes that the regulation of the gaming industry in Montenegro is, overall, liberal. Practically all games of chance in both land-based and online forms are permitted. However, certain solutions need to be improved, such as the outdated regulation on online gambling, which is now tied to the license for land-based gambling. Also, the norms on prevention of problem gambling are lacking in the current legislation. It is expected that this will be rectified by the new law which is in the pipeline.