TLDR
- The new Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games took effect on July 14, ending a system used since 2011.
- Online gambling is now fully controlled by a new state-owned joint-stock company.
- Private operators lost their licenses back in 2024, including Mozzart, NOVO VLT, 77 BITS, Vezuv, and 2Win.mk.
- Land-based casinos face new distance rules from schools and stricter technical compliance checks.
- Social media giveaways that use likes, shares, or tags now count as gambling and require a license.
North Macedonia has replaced its online gambling system with a new law. The change ends private company participation in the sector.
The Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games began on July 14. It replaces a framework that had been active since 2011.
Lawmakers spent close to three years debating the bill. Several drafts were written and withdrawn before final approval.
State Takes Over Online Betting
Under the old rules, private companies could run online betting sites. The state had to hold at least 51 percent ownership in each venture.
That system let foreign investors partner with the state lottery. It also kept betting activity inside a taxed and licensed market.
The new law removes that option entirely. A single state-owned company will now run all online gambling products.
Private companies can still work with the state. But they can only supply technology or content through public tenders.
The change did not happen overnight. Authorities began pulling licenses from private operators back in September 2024.
Companies affected included NOVO VLT, Mozzart, 77 BITS, Vezuv, and 2Win.mk. Most had worked alongside the state lottery under the older system.
By the end of 2024, only MegaWin remained active online. Its license was tied to ongoing legal proceedings.
Stricter Rules For Casinos And Ads
Land-based casinos and slot clubs can still be privately owned. But they now face tougher requirements to operate.
New venues must sit at least 500 meters from primary and secondary schools. This rule takes effect on January 1, 2028.
Slot machines must include GPS tracking before being used. Machines also need proper registration and sealing.
Advertising faces new limits too. Outdoor signs are capped at 30 by 100 centimeters, and flashing signs are banned.
Ads cannot suggest gambling leads to financial success or solves personal problems. Every ad must also include a warning about addiction risk.
The law also covers social media promotions. Giveaways that require likes, shares, or tags now count as gambling activity.
Those giveaways need a license and a fee equal to 18 percent of the prize value. This closes a gap that had let brands run unlicensed contests.
Most parts of the law take effect between six months and one year after July 14. The school-distance and GPS rules wait until 2028.
Analysts have raised questions about how the state monopoly will perform long term. Offshore gambling sites often offer more games and larger promotions.
If the state platform cannot compete, players could move to unlicensed sites instead. That would cut into both tax revenue and consumer protections.
