EU approved Croatia gambling laws

Legislators will now allow Croatian poker and game players to join gaming websites and register as users. This is different from prevailing models in other larger European countries such as Italy and France which have made only specific sites available to players, in a more closed market situation.

Contingencies for approval include operator compliance with taxation requirements for the country, and applications for a specific gaming license before offering services to Croatian players.

As far as specific logistics, the laws are scheduled to go into effect in 2015, for operators who apply for licensing at the Ministry of Finance and submit a pay a fee worth upwards of $490,000. Operators must also maintain in Croatia a bank deposit of a financial value surpassing the licensing fee, a requirement that enables regulators to insure against any damages that might require revocation or suspension of the license—it also is a great way to ensure full compliance by applicants.

Government benefits include 5% of monthly revenues, with players surpassing 750 HRK in winnings annually submitting 10% of their winnings to the Croatian government, with taxes increasing according to a scale of winnings.