The budget revenue from online gambling in Montenegro last year amounted to 12.58 million euros, a remarkable increase of 686.67% compared to 2023, when it was just 1.6 million euros.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System, Justice, and Anti-Corruption announced that, thanks to changes in the law and its successful implementation, the state collected an additional 11 million euros.
“This result not only highlights this progress but also points to the short-sightedness and complete disregard for public interest by the former president, who neither returned nor signed the law introducing variable fees for online gambling, which has led to this significant increase in budget revenue. We passed this law in March 2023, and it would have generated at least seven million euros in revenue in 2023,” the statement read.
The Cabinet also noted that their public appeals, which clearly projected benefits for the state, were not fruitful at the time.
“However, the Ministry of Finance of the 44th Government, as part of its reform efforts, revived these solutions. The government’s proposed law, with the mentioned fee system and other elements of good public policy, was passed in late 2023, and its benefits for society and the state have already been evident in the previous year,” the statement continued.
In total, budget revenues from gambling in 2023 amounted to 33.81 million euros, an increase of 11.5 million euros or 51.27% compared to 2022, when they were 22.35 million euros.
“Considering that two lump-sum payments were made for casinos in 2023, which occur once every ten years, the real increases are even greater,” the Cabinet said.
It was also pointed out that, just a few years ago, these budget revenues ranged from 10 to 12 million euros, indicating significant losses for the state due to poor legislation, a system of privilege, and a lack of control and enforcement against abuse.
“Thanks to the exceptional management of the Gambling Administration, which has carried out its duties professionally, responsibly, and impartially—combating numerous abuses and improving control—the effects of the law amendments have been achieved. This instills public trust in the work of the administration,” the statement noted.
Additionally, the management of the Gambling Administration, with professional staff, has addressed various abuses related to the distance of betting facilities from schools, rejected all improper requests, and begun successfully implementing a new, modern, and more reliable information system for monitoring gambling activities, in line with the Strategy for the Fight Against Corruption.
The reorganization of the inspection service, now part of the Ministry of Finance, is expected to further enhance the fight against abuses.
The Coordinating Body for Public Interest Protection in Gambling has developed an Action Plan with a set of measures to combat gambling addiction, which will involve multiple institutions in their implementation, as it is a key priority for the government, given the alarming inherited situation.
“For the first time last year, the Ministry of Finance and the government, recognizing the societal significance, financially supported the campaign against gambling addiction as part of the renowned FIAT festival, in which prominent Montenegrin actors participated. A clear direction for the Coordinating Body was set,” the statement concluded.
From this, the conclusion is that good laws and a clear fight against abuses not only lead to equality before the law and the protection of fundamental social values but also have direct positive effects on the state budget, enabling the government to better meet public needs.
