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On 29 June 2026, the Assembly of North Macedonia adopted a new Act on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games. The Act enters into force on 14 July 2026.
Certain provisions will, however, be subject to transition periods. Existing operators will be required to align their operations with the new advertising restrictions and with the reputation-related requirements within six months of entry into force. A one-year alignment period applies to certain other obligations, including the cumulative share capital requirements for holders of multiple licences and the fees for betting shop and slot club premises exceeding the numbers covered by the base licence. The application of certain further provisions, notably the minimum distance from schools and the mandatory GPS tracking, is deferred until 1 January 2028, as noted below.
The law provides that the right to organise lottery games of chance (except closed-type raffles), as well as electronic and online games of chance, belongs to the Republic of North Macedonia and is to be exercised through a company in which the state is the sole shareholder. This represents a further centralisation compared with the previous regime, under which electronic and online games could be organised by a company with at least 51% state capital and decision-making rights.
Private operators are not entirely excluded from these segments: for electronic and internet games, the state-owned company may engage external legal entities selected through a public call. We understand this to mean that private contractors may supply the technology, content, or operational services under a contract awarded through a competitive procedure, but the organizing right itself remains with the state-owned company. Under the transitional provisions, the existing organizer of electronic games may continue operating under the old law until 31 December 2026 at the latest, with the state-owned company to commence organising electronic games independently by 1 January 2027.
One of the novelties introduced by the law is the regulation of "giveaways", including promotional games organised through social media in which participation may consist of likes, tags or shared posts. Organising a giveaway will now require a permit from the Ministry of Finance and payment of a fee amounting to 18% of the total value of the prize fund, payable before the game begins.
Another key development is the introduction of "fit and proper" criteria applicable to members of management and supervisory bodies, as well as partners and shareholders, of companies holding licences for organising games of chance (casinos, betting shops, slot clubs and closed-type raffles). Such companies will be required to obtain prior consent from the Ministry of Finance for any change in their ownership structure or share capital and for the appointment of members of management and supervisory bodies, based on prescribed integrity criteria applicable to both legal entities and individuals. Loss of the required reputation is an express ground for licence revocation. The precise evidence by which a person's reputation is to be established will be further defined in secondary legislation to be adopted by the Minister of Finance.
The law limits the size of advertisements on the exterior of business premises of gambling operators to 30 cm by 100 cm, except in the case of casinos located within 3 km of the state border. Also, illuminated advertising is prohibited.
In terms of content, the law prohibits advertising that presents gambling as a path to social acceptance, personal or financial success, or as a solution to economic, social or personal problems, as well as celebrity endorsements suggesting that gambling contributed to a person's success and any advertising targeted at minors. Media advertising must clearly state that participation is prohibited for persons under 18 and that gambling may cause addiction.
Furthermore, the law introduces the mandatory installation of GPS positioning systems on every gaming machine and video lottery terminal in slot clubs, casinos and electronic gaming premises, in constant electronic communication with the Public Revenue Office. This measure is intended to ensure accurate location tracking and prevent the placement of machines with unlicensed operators. The requirement will apply as of 1 January 2028. Until then, the Customs Administration will keep a register of serial numbers of imported machines and terminals.
New rules on minimum share capital introduce a cumulative requirement, limiting the ability of a single company to hold multiple licences on the basis of the same share capital. Each additional licence for special games of chance, whether of the same or a different type, will require share capital in a cumulative amount of at least the prescribed minimums for all licences held. Non-monetary contributions must serve the company's business activity, and monetary contributions must not originate from loans or credits.
As one of the key novelties, the law introduces a minimum distance requirement of 500 metres from primary and secondary schools for premises in which casino games (unless the casino is within a hotel), slot games and electronic games are organised. Betting shop outlets are exempt from the distance requirement as such, but outlets located within 500 metres of a school may not host video lottery terminals or other terminals or computers for electronic games. The distance is measured as the shortest safe route from the school to the entrance of the premises, established by a geodetic survey. This requirement will apply as of 1 January 2028.
The financial burden on the industry increases considerably. The monthly fee for electronic games rises from EUR 30 to EUR 200 per terminal. The internet gambling licence, previously issued for four years against a fee of EUR 50,000, is now issued for ten years against a fee of EUR 200,000, while the monthly duties on internet games increase substantially compared with the previous 0.5% levy on total payments: 6% of total payments for lottery games and 15% of the difference between amounts staked and amounts paid out for electronic and special games.
Online operators face a more demanding compliance framework, including registration of a .mk domain, compliance with ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO 27701, SSL certification, electronic identification of players at a high assurance level, and mandatory routing of payment transactions through banks seated in North Macedonia (deposits may alternatively be made at the operator's registered premises, while winnings must be paid out exclusively through such banks). Funds on a player's account must be paid out within five working days of the player's request. The core player-protection rules are retained: one account per participant, deposits only by card or electronic transfer, prohibition of extending credit to players, segregation of player funds on a separate bank account, and responsible gambling tools such as self-exclusion and wagering, loss and time limits.
The industry has assessed the new legislative framework as detrimental, raising concerns that it may jeopardise a significant number of jobs. The government, on the other hand, has presented the law as a modernisation measure aimed at protecting minors, curbing the grey economy and strengthening supervision, while continuing the earmarking of between 60 and 120 million denars annually from gambling revenues for national disability organisations, associations combating domestic violence and the Red Cross of North Macedonia.