Serbia Adopts New Rulebook Tightening Oversight of Jackpot Games
Serbia has introduced a new rulebook that tightens operating, technical and payout rules for jackpot games.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The new regulations, published in the official gazette and enacted under Article 115b of the Law on Games of Chance, establish a dedicated framework for both online and land-based jackpot offerings. The changes impose certification requirements, annual authorisation and operational safeguards designed to improve transparency, data integrity and fiscal oversight of large prize pools.
Key Provisions of the Rulebook
Under the revised regime, only licensed gambling firms may operate jackpot games, and each jackpot product must receive an individual approval from Serbia’s Games of Chance Administration before it goes live. Approvals are time-limited and now valid for a single calendar year, after which operators are required to reapply and demonstrate continued compliance.
Operators seeking authorisation must submit a compliance certificate for their jackpot systems together with a full description of the game mechanics. Random-number generators that determine prize outcomes must meet laboratory-approved statistical integrity standards; manual manipulation of RNG results is strictly prohibited. The rulebook additionally mandates data encryption, secure backups and continuous electronic reporting to the regulator so authorities can monitor systems in real time.
One of the most consequential measures is a cap on jackpot payouts. The rules limit aggregate jackpot awards to 20 percent of an operator’s annual net betting base – a metric defined as total stakes minus player winnings. That cap is to be applied separately across product verticals, covering betting, slot machines and online electronic games. Regulators say the limit is intended to align prize exposure with an operator’s underlying financial activity and reduce systemic risk.
The Ministry of Finance has framed the changes as technical and supervisory rather than consumer-facing: "Players should not experience material changes in how they access games", a ministry statement said. "These measures are intended to ensure fairness, system integrity and proper fiscal reporting by operators."
Compliance and Oversight Requirements
The rulebook also codifies stricter certification and audit processes. Independent laboratory assessments will be required for RNGs and for related control systems, and operators must retain technical documentation that allows regulators to validate outcomes and trace data flows. Real-time reporting obligations mean the Games of Chance Administration can detect anomalies faster and order immediate interventions where necessary.
Industry reaction has been mixed. Some operators in Belgrade and the wider region said the changes are manageable but will increase compliance costs. "The principle of heightened oversight is welcome, but smaller operators will face significant upfront testing and encryption expenses", said Milan Pešić, CEO of a regional online operator. "We expect some consolidation in the market as compliance becomes more resource-intensive."
Regulatory advocates welcomed the clarity around jackpot governance. "For years jackpot mechanics occupied a grey area in our legislation", said Ana Jovanović, a regulatory consultant specialising in Balkan gaming law. "This rulebook finally sets out how prizes must be generated, recorded and reported. That reduces the risk of manipulation and gives both players and tax authorities greater confidence in outcomes."
The measures come amid a broader tightening of gambling rules driven by legislative changes in 2024 and subsequent enforcement activity. Last year, authorities carried out nationwide checks of gaming venues amid concerns about underage play and compliance with identity-verification rules; opposition parties have continued to press for stronger safeguards for young people.
Operators will now have to balance the cost of enhanced compliance with the business imperative to offer competitive jackpots. The Games of Chance Administration has signalled it will publish further guidance on technical standards and the administrative timetable for approvals in the coming weeks, giving companies a transition period to meet the new requirements.
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Regional Gambling Shifts in the Balkans
Serbia’s tighter jackpot rules reflect a broader recalibration of gambling oversight across the Balkans, where governments are reassessing how much control the state should exert over gaming markets. In neighbouring Bulgaria, lawmakers have recently taken a different path: the Bulgarian Parliament rejected centralised state control of gambling earlier this year, pushing back against proposals to consolidate regulation and operations under a single state authority. At the same time, Sofia has moved in the opposite direction on ownership, as Bulgaria moves to privatise its state lottery and betting monopoly in an effort to attract private capital and modernise the sector.
Together, these contrasting approaches highlight a regional divide. While Serbia is opting for tighter technical supervision and capped exposure within a licensed private market, Bulgaria is reshaping its gambling framework by reducing direct state participation while maintaining regulatory oversight. For operators active across the region, the divergence underscores the need for country-specific compliance strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all Balkan model.
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