MP Branko Zorman filed the bill

Slovenia upper house vetoed sports betting liberalization bill

Slovenia's current gambling regulations limit the provision of games of chance to two operators: the national lottery operator Loterija Slovenije and Športna Loterija for sports betting.
2018-03-28
Reading time 51 seg
The National Council, the upper house of the country's parliament rejected Tuesday the recently proposed legislation providing for the liberalization of sports betting.

Slovenia's current gambling regulations limit the provision of games of chance to two operators: the national lottery operator Loterija Slovenije and Športna Loterija for sports betting.

As disclosed by Total Slovenia News, the members of the National Council fear that changes will jeopardize the funding of sports associations, charities and organisations of the disabled. However, parliament could still pass the legislation with a two-thirds majority vote.

Veto initiator Boris Šuštaršič believes that liberalization would increase jackpot funds and lead to lower concession fees.

MP Branko Zorman, who filed the bill, rejected the claims, accusing the veto proponents of parroting the two lottery operators. He believes that 80% of Slovenians bet through online services based abroad, which do not have a concession or pay taxes here.

The legislation would require providers to obtain a licence and pay licence fees, which Zorman believes will generate more funds for sports and for disability and humanitarian organisations and not less as claimed by veto proponents.

The bill was supported by senior coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC) and the opposition Democrats (SDS) and New Slovenia (NSi). The national assembly will have to take a revote and endorse the bill with a two-thirds majority to get it enacted.

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