Slovak Regulator Orders Sports to Drop Unlicensed Gambling Sponsors
Slovakia’s gambling regulator has told sports organisations to remove branding linked to unlicensed operators or face sanctions.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Libuša Baranová, the newly appointed director general of the Gambling Regulation Office (ÚRHH), used her first public address to demand that sports federations and clubs audit and terminate any commercial arrangements that in any way connect them with gambling operators lacking an individual Slovak licence. She instructed organisations to remove trade names and logos of foreign operators that do not hold Slovak authorisation, and said fines of up to €250,000 can be imposed under the Gambling Act for unlawful partnerships.
"Combating illegal gambling operators, protecting consumers and vulnerable groups, and ensuring a fair and regulated gambling market are our absolute priorities", Baranová said, adding that the regulator would not hesitate to apply sanctions where breaches are found. She argued that sports organisations have become a "high-visibility resource" for unlicensed operators that use sponsorships to reach domestic audiences and expand into neighbouring markets.
Baranová’s message puts responsibility squarely on rights-holders, leagues, clubs and venues to ensure sponsorship compliance. The regulator expects immediate reviews of existing contracts and the removal of non-compliant branding from stadia, kits and digital channels. The warning follows an observed increase in cross-border brand activity across the region, where operators without domestic licences have sought visibility through sports advertising and partnerships.
Related: Slovakia’s President Vetoes New Gambling Law, Citing Consumer-Protection Gaps
Political and Market Developments
The call comes amid wider uncertainty over Slovakia’s gambling rules. This spring saw two leadership changes at the ÚRHH: Jana Mravíková briefly replaced Martin Bohoš in April but served less than six months before Baranová’s appointment. The leadership turnover has coincided with national debate over a proposed overhaul of online gambling regulation.
President Peter Pellegrini recently vetoed a parliamentary bill intended to liberalise Slovakia’s online gambling framework and introduce new licensing mechanisms, citing concerns about consumer protection and social harms. The bill’s proponents said it would expand regulatory oversight while opening the market to more operators; the president’s office returned the draft to the National Council for revision, requesting stronger safeguards against problem gambling.
Domestic licensed operators currently occupy the principal sponsorship slots in major Slovak competitions. Niké, the national betting operator, and the state lottery sponsor football and basketball competitions, while the Tiposport brand backs the ExtraLiga ice hockey league. Baranová singled out instances where foreign brands without Slovak licences still appear on jerseys, around arenas or in league media packages, warning those placements could amount to indirect promotion of illegal gambling.
Industry lawyers and compliance specialists say the regulator’s stance is unsurprising but will require significant operational work from sports bodies. "Federations and clubs should treat this as a compliance imperative, not a reputational exercise", said Martin Kováč, head of regulatory affairs at a Bratislava-based gaming law firm. "Contracts need immediate review, and where operators don’t hold Slovak licences, logos and marketing must be taken down to avoid enforcement action."
Some market observers expect a short-term spike in renegotiations as rights-holders seek to clarify licence status and amend deals. Others warn that smaller clubs reliant on sponsorship income may struggle to replace foreign partners quickly, creating tension between financial pressures and legal obligations.
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Practical Steps for Rights-Holders
Compliance experts recommend an immediate three-step audit for sports organisations: (1) map all commercial agreements and inventory visible branding across digital and physical assets; (2) verify the Slovak licence status of each gambling partner with ÚRHH records; and (3) negotiate contractual amendments or remove branding where licences are absent. Failure to act, they warn, could expose organisations to the statutory fines and other administrative measures available to the regulator.
With leadership stabilised at the ÚRHH and the president’s veto keeping broader legislative change in flux, the regulator’s enforcement-first message is likely to shape sponsorship practices across Slovak sport in the months ahead.
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