Nearly One in Four Slovaks Gamble on Unlicensed Sites
Overview of Illegal Online Gambling in Slovakia
Recent findings show that almost 25% of Slovakian online gamblers use unlicensed gambling websites. This highlights a significant issue with illegal betting activities across the country.
Insights from Slovakia’s First Comprehensive Illegal Gambling Study
A groundbreaking report titled “The Black Book on Illegal Gambling,” developed by the Institute for the Regulation of Gambling (IPRHH) in collaboration with the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), presents the first representative survey of illegal online gambling in Slovakia.
The study combined data analysis, detailed case studies, and a nationwide survey involving 2,000 residents aged between 18 and 75 years. It revealed that approximately 28.2% of Slovak adults, roughly 1.24 million individuals, engaged in online gambling during the past year.
Among these players, 23.7% (about 296,000 people) admitted to betting on unlicensed platforms. Additionally, 24.1% expressed uncertainty about whether their gambling sites were legally authorized, suggesting that more than half a million users might be using illegal operators.
Reasons Behind the Appeal of Unlicensed Gambling Sites
The survey explored why many players prefer offshore gambling platforms. Top reasons included more attractive bonuses (32.5%), improved odds (29.5%), faster registration processes (29.1%), a wider variety of games (27.4%), and larger jackpots (27%). Concerningly, less than half of the respondents (42.2%) regularly verify if an online casino holds a Slovak license.
Dávid Lenčéš, executive director of IPRHH, emphasized the risks of unlicensed sites stating that these operators disregard essential safeguards required of licensed providers, such as setting limits, conducting identity verification, and offering addiction protections. He also warned that users of these sites lack legal protection if they lose money.
Financial Impact of Illegal Gambling on Slovakia
The report estimates that Slovak gamblers spend an average of 85 euros (approximately 98.5 USD) monthly on illegal platforms, which accumulates to over 300 million euros (about 347.8 million USD) annually. When considering players unsure about the legality of their gambling providers, the total amount potentially rises above 600 million euros (nearly 695 million USD) each year.
Challenges with Gambling Advertising and Underage Risks
Research also uncovered confusion surrounding gambling advertisements. Over 43% of participants were unable to distinguish between adverts promoting licensed versus unlicensed sites, while 17.5% believed unlicensed gambling ads were more common.
The report highlighted concerns over minors’ exposure to gambling, especially through loot boxes in video games and gambling promotions by influencers and streamers. Illegal operators often avoid strict age verification controls, increasing these risks.
Recommendations to Combat Illegal Gambling
To address these challenges, the IPRHH suggests several measures, including stronger regulatory enforcement such as blocking payments directed to unlicensed platforms and speeding up the process of shutting down illegal gambling websites. They also recommend lowering deposit fees on legal sites to attract players.
Moreover, the initiative supports implementing AI-based systems to identify illegal advertisements and encourages collaboration with major technology companies like Google and Apple to eliminate unauthorized gambling apps from their platforms.
