Croatia Introduces Centralised Self-Exclusion System

Croatia Introduces Centralised Self-Exclusion System

Croatia has taken its first formal step into a new regulatory phase with the introduction of a state-managed self-exclusion registry that will eventually become compulsory for all licensed operators. This development signals a broader restructuring of how gambling is monitored and how information flows between public institutions, operators, and land-based venues. While the measure is still in its early stages, the framework around it reveals a more coordinated regulatory direction than the country has previously enforced.

The registry, named Registar Igrača, went live this week under the administration of the Croatian Institute of Public Health. By placing the system within a public health institution, the government has shifted the centre of responsibility away from individual operators toward a shared national structure. Once a person opts into the registry, their exclusion applies across all licensed platforms and premises in the country. This unified approach replaces fragmented procedures that previously differed from one operator to another.

Operators now face a transition period leading up to January 1, 2026, when full integration with the registry becomes mandatory. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for compliance, holding authority over how operators adjust their systems and maintain data connections. The timeline sets the stage for a gradual yet definitive restructuring of market obligations, where companies will need to reassess how they handle verification, database connections, and internal procedures.

This reform is one of several measures committed to by prime minister Andrej Plenković and the HDZ party. It arrives alongside a directive targeting betting terminals in cafés, bars, and other recreational spots. These self-service terminals, locally known as kladomati, must be removed. Their removal alters the widespread presence of informal betting access points, thereby narrowing the environments in which such products can operate legally. With kladomati gone, the government places greater emphasis on regulated venues that already fall under clearer forms of supervision.

Casinos, betting shops, and arcades will adopt a more structured form of entry control as part of the reforms. They must introduce electronic identity verification systems capable of confirming customer details and checking whether individuals are listed in the Registar Igrača database. Staff will have responsibilities tied to both technological and manual forms of verification. The requirement that these systems integrate with local authorities and the Ministry of Finance creates an interconnected network designed to maintain accurate and up-to-date records.

The identity verification rules do more than add another administrative step. They reshape the rhythm of entry into gambling environments by making identification a formal precondition rather than a loose operational choice. The link to the new registry ensures that exclusion decisions, once made, follow an individual across venues without requiring repeated declarations.

Alongside operational reforms, Croatia is adjusting how gambling is presented to the public. A new restriction on advertising bans gambling-related broadcast content between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. The measure reduces the visibility of such advertising during hours when a wider audience may be exposed to it. The rule aligns Croatia with several European jurisdictions that have pursued similar approaches in recent years, indicating a shift toward more closely managing promotional visibility.

Gambling venues themselves will also face restrictions in how they present their operations externally. They will no longer be permitted to use outdoor promotional structures such as signage, branded displays, or illuminated advertising. This move reduces the visual prominence of gambling venues in public spaces. The absence of external advertising is likely to alter how venues approach their public-facing identities, prompting them to adopt more restrained exterior designs and limit spontaneous contact with potential customers.

Taken as a whole, the reforms demonstrate a coordinated reevaluation of how gambling activity should be positioned within the country’s regulatory framework. The introduction of a centralised self-exclusion database addresses consistency. The removal of kladomati adjusts the physical availability of gambling opportunities. Identity verification requirements formalise responsibilities that once varied widely across operators. Meanwhile, advertising controls influence how gambling is visually represented and portrayed through media.