Gambling Laws in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Gambling in Bosnia and Herzegovina is legal in both entities of this country: in the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and in Republika Srpska. In the FBiH, gambling is legal under the
Law on Games of Chance (Zakon o igrama na sreću) from 2015, published in the Public Journal of the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 48/15 and amended in No. 60/15 while in Republika Srpska it is regulated by the
Law on Games of Chance, published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska No.22/19 on 20 March 2019 and which replaced the previous legislation.
According to article 18 of the
Law on Games of Chance, Bosnians from FBiH can play all forms of online gambling legally, though the entity hasn’t issued any licenses yet, with the exception of lotto and bingo games organized by the national lottery. On the other hand, the territory of Republika Srpska, the second entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has legalized all forms of online gambling back in 2011 and has platforms operating under a licensing system.
The bodies responsible for the regulation of the gambling activities in the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Republika Srpska are the Federal Ministries of Finance of the respective entities. And according to
Bosnian gambling laws, minors under 18 years of age are prohibited from participating in gambling activities.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Yes, all forms of online gambling are legal in both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the FBiH has only regulated online lotto and bingo games yet. |
Online Casinos in Bosnia and Herzegovina
There are 2 licensed land-based casino operators in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as of July 2019. As online casinos are still not regulated in the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina, the only licensed
online casinos in Bosnia and Herzegovina, can be found in Republika Srpska. But in both political entities, residents are legally allowed to access foreign platforms.
Online Poker in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Although there are no separate
Bosnian online poker laws, the general regulations of gambling in the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Republika Srpska apply to this game too. Consequently, only the Republika Srpska has specialized
online poker sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but Bosnians can also play in international poker rooms.
Online Lottery in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lutrija BiH is the state-licensed provider for all sorts of lotto games in the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Lutrija Republike Srpske is responsible for organizing lotto games in Republika Srpska. However, only the Lutrija BiH is currently providing
online lottery in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Online Bingo in Bosnia and Herzegovina
There are no specific
Bosnian online bingo laws, but the status of online bingo in Bosnia and Herzegovina is similar to the status of the lotto games. Consequently, online bingo is considered to be legal all over the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Yet, and although bingo has a long tradition in the country, there is only one
online bingo site in Bosnia and Herzegovina which is owned by the Lutrija BiH.
Online Sports Betting in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Online sports betting in Bosnia and Herzegovina is regulated with the official gambling acts in both political entities in the country. Even though there is only one
online sportsbook site licensed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), offered by the Bosnia and Herzegovina Lutrjia, it is possible to find more options in the Republika Srpska. The Serb entity has licensed a few private operators.
Online DFS in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Online DFS sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina are not legally regulated. Due to the legal status of online betting in the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is probable to expect the legalization of the
Daily Fantasy Sports in the near future while Republika Srpska has already made such attempts.