Serbia Blacklists Online Gaming Operators

Serbia has issued a blacklist of 70 online gaming operators which offer services in the country according to Balkans.com.

Among the notable companies on the list are 888, bwin.party, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Unibet, and Betfair. The Serbian government plans to block the ISPs of these sites but they have six months grace to decide whether to apply for a license in the country.

Serbia passed a law in November which will allow for a licensing system. It features a five percent gross gaming yield and 10 year license.

Serbian Association of Gaming Operators (JAKTA) director, Aleksandar Vulovic, told newspaper Blic, “We had to prevent access to illegal sites in order to have a regulated market, with leading players who will operate under the law and allow the state will reap the benefits.

“Currently online gambling is one of the most profitable industries and it is estimated that the revenue will double by 2013. It is simply wrong that the state does not collect a penny of the millions from the sector,”

However analysts Daniel Stewart & Co are not convinced the market is so attractive saying, “Serbia’s population of c7.5m, low internet penetration c56% and low GDP per capita c$11,000 are factors in our view which do not make for a particularly large online gambling market.

“However should a mass exit transpire we believe it would benefit the Serbian state lottery and by default Playtech (Buy; 462p) which entered into a partnership with the state lottery in 2009 and supplies the former with its casino games and poker platform.”

Most Viewed Articles