Seven national gambling industry associations signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in Belgrade on 27–28 March, formally launching the Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF) as the region’s first coordinated platform for cross-border industry representation.
The initiative was co-driven by Serbia’s Association of Gaming Operators (AGOS) and Bulgaria’s Association of Online Gaming and Gambling Operators (AOGGAB), with AGOS hosting the founding meeting. The federation’s membership spans seven countries: Serbia (AGOS), Bulgaria (AOGGAB), Croatia (HUPIS), Romania (ROMSLOT), Montenegro (GPIS), Bosnia and Herzegovina (UPIS RS), and North Macedonia (MAK GEJMING).
Together, the member associations represent online and land-based operators, casinos, manufacturers, technology suppliers and other key industry players across the region.
Cooperation Agenda
The founding document outlines several priority areas for joint work. These include coordinated action against illegal gambling, maintaining fair competition among licensed operators, exchange of regulatory expertise, alignment on legislative developments, and joint efforts to attract international investment to the region. The federation also intends to develop shared industry events and build a clearer regional identity in international markets.
The BGF’s formation comes at a moment when each of its member countries is navigating distinct but parallel regulatory pressures. Croatia’s gambling law overhaul has drawn a formal complaint from EUROMAT over its failure to notify the European Commission under the TRIS Directive. Romania has faced ongoing enforcement action against unlicensed operators, with its regulator blocking 30 illegal websites in a single enforcement sweep last year. Serbia recently amended its gaming law to allow licensed operators to offer jackpot products, a move designed to channel player activity toward regulated platforms. Bulgaria faces political pressure to raise the minimum gambling age from 18 to 21, while Montenegro’s industry clashed with government officials over proposed changes to the local tax structure without a supporting evidence base.
Bosnia and Herzegovina operates one of the more fragmented regulatory environments in the region, a structural challenge the federation explicitly aims to address through coordinated policy dialogue.
European Framework
Several of the founding associations are existing EUROMAT members, the pan-European gaming and amusement federation. The BGF is positioned to function as a regional cluster within that framework rather than as a standalone international body, giving Balkan operators a more defined voice in broader European industry discussions. The trend toward structured regional coordination is already visible across Europe, with regulators from multiple jurisdictions increasingly working through shared platforms to address cross-border enforcement and compliance challenges.
The region’s commercial significance has grown with the entry of major international operators. Serbia and Romania host sizeable online gambling sectors attracting operators including Bet365, Evoke and Superbet, which entered the Romanian market through its acquisition of Maxbet Online. Croatia and Bulgaria maintain significant land-based casino industries alongside expanding online operations.
Next Steps
The member associations agreed to reconvene on 26 May 2026 during the Belgrade Future Gaming exhibition, where the BGF will have a joint stand. That meeting is expected to include a vote on the federation’s founding statute, with the initial statutory framework to be prepared in advance. Work on a shared communications identity and internal coordination infrastructure is already underway.
The BGF aims to have its formal governance structure defined and its first President elected before the end of autumn 2026.
Source: SBC News
