Serbia Formalises Jackpot Oversight with Annual Approvals

Serbia Formalises Jackpot Oversight with Annual Approvals

Serbia has introduced a new regulatory framework for jackpot games following the publication of a dedicated rulebook in the Official Gazette. The measures apply to licensed gambling operators offering jackpot products across land-based venues and online platforms and represent a formal step toward separating jackpot regulation from the broader gambling rule set. By doing so, Serbian authorities have established a clearer structure for approving, monitoring, and limiting jackpots.

The rulebook gives practical effect to Article 115b of the Law on Games of Chance, which was added through legislative amendments adopted in 2024. While the law itself outlined the intention to regulate jackpots more precisely, the newly adopted secondary legislation provides the operational detail required for enforcement. For the first time, jackpot games in Serbia are subject to a standalone set of technical, organisational, and compliance obligations.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the changes are primarily aimed at operators rather than players. Officials have indicated that the new framework is not expected to alter the way jackpots appear or function from a user perspective. Instead, the focus lies on internal systems, approval procedures, and financial discipline, with the stated objective of improving transparency, safeguarding system integrity, and strengthening fiscal oversight.

Under the new rules, only operators holding a valid Serbian gambling licence are permitted to organise jackpot games. Each individual jackpot must receive prior authorisation from the Games of Chance Administration before it can be launched. This approval is granted on a limited basis and remains valid for one calendar year, after which operators must seek renewal if they intend to continue offering the jackpot.

The annual reauthorisation requirement introduces a recurring compliance checkpoint. When reapplying, operators are required to submit updated documentation, including a certification confirming that the jackpot system complies with regulatory standards. They must also provide a detailed description of how the jackpot operates, covering contribution mechanisms, prize allocation logic, and relevant technical safeguards. This process allows regulators to review jackpot structures regularly rather than relying on long-term approvals.

Technical integrity plays a central role in the new framework. Jackpot outcomes must be generated exclusively through random number generators that meet statistical and integrity standards approved by accredited testing laboratories. The rulebook explicitly prohibits any form of manual intervention in jackpot determination, reinforcing the principle that outcomes must remain independent of operator influence.

Beyond outcome generation, the regulations impose broader system security obligations. Operators are required to encrypt jackpot-related data and maintain secure backup protocols to protect against data loss or manipulation. A notable addition is the requirement for real-time data exchange with the Games of Chance Administration. This enables continuous monitoring of jackpot activity and allows regulators to track contributions, payouts, and system behaviour in real time.

The introduction of real-time oversight marks a shift toward more proactive supervision. Rather than relying solely on periodic audits or post-event reporting, the authorities gain ongoing visibility into jackpot operations. This approach is intended to reduce the likelihood of irregularities going undetected and to provide regulators with the tools to intervene earlier if compliance issues arise.

The rulebook also introduces statutory limits on jackpot payouts, adding a financial control element to the regulatory package. Under the new provisions, total jackpot payouts may not exceed 20 per cent of an operator's annual net betting base. This figure is calculated as the difference between total wagers placed and total winnings paid out to players over the course of a year.

Importantly, the payout cap is applied separately across different gambling categories. Betting, slot machines, and online games offered through electronic channels are each assessed independently. This segmented calculation prevents operators from balancing higher jackpot exposure in one vertical with lower activity in another, ensuring that jackpot liabilities remain proportionate within each segment of the business.

By tying jackpot payouts to net betting figures, the authorities introduce a mechanism that aligns prize funding with actual economic performance. This may also contribute to more predictable tax reporting and reduce the risk associated with aggressive jackpot accumulation strategies that could affect an operator's financial stability.

The new jackpot rules form part of a wider regulatory trajectory in Serbia. Amendments to the Law on Games of Chance adopted in 2024 signalled a broader intention to tighten oversight across the gambling sector. Later that year, the government ordered nationwide inspections of gaming venues following concerns related to underage gambling, bringing enforcement practices into sharper focus.