EUROMAT voices concerns over potential legal ambiguity due to Croatia bypassing EU regulations' established process
The European Gambling and Amusement Federation (EUROMAT) has earned a reputation for having a bone to pick with Croatia over its recent amendments to the Gambling Act. Eastern Europe's notorious gambler has been guilty of dodging the European Commission's mandatory Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) notification process, making overtures to the commission via TRIS a compulsory practice for any national legislation that could influence the EU internal market access.
In an official filing on the first of April, EUROMAT laid into Croatia for its begrudging compliance with TRIS, while loudly criticizing the nation's attempt to sneak unwarranted gambling law changes under the blanket of the European Commission's oversight.
These changes to the Gambling Act encapsulate a whole laundry list of responsible gambling measures. Market observers have their eyes locked on mandatory player registration for venue access, a national self-exclusion register, more stringent advertising constraints, and unfortunate venues facing limitations on their operating hours and locations. In addition, licensing requirements, fees, and taxes have been hiked, carrying the weight of a sack of bricks on gambling establishments across the nation.
According to Jason Frost, President of EUROMAT, the Commission must exercise its authority to defend the integrity of the entire European Internal Market. Frost doubled down on an incident in 2014 when Croatia was forced to push the pause button on a gambling bill following Commission intervention, emphasizing the importance of maintaining compliance with EU law. Frost went so far as to demand Commission involvement, stating it must step in again to persuade Croatia to act within EU law when it comes to submitting the necessary TRIS notification.
Frost did not stop there; he also underscored the dire need for consistency and accountability across the EU, warning that disregard for the notification requirement threatens to undermine legal certainty for businesses and potentially sets precarious precedents for future regulatory infractions.
EUROMAT reminds us that Croatia has previously followed the TRIS procedure, in 2014 and 2023, rendering their failure to adhere to the protocol a significant departure from their usual behavior. The TRIS database shows over 500 similar gambling-related notifications from other EU member states, raising questions about Croatia's commitment to regulatory adherence.
Supporting EUROMAT's stance, Filip Jelavic, General Secretary of the Croatian Gaming Association, addressed the elephant in the room:
The proposed reforms have ignited a firestorm of contention among both homegrown and international stakeholders. A domestic industry group recently demonstrated its concerns over the potential closure of 70% of Croatia's gaming venues due to an overbearing burden of new compliance demands.
This fracas comes hot on the heels of a Court of Justice of the European Union judgment that invalidated a similar law in Lithuania based on procedural errors. If the Commission finds Croatia in violation of EU law, it could suspend the new regulations and even instigate infringement proceedings.
[1] EUROMAT
[2] Croatia Today
[3] European Commission TRIS Database
[4] SBC News
[5] Casino Beats
- EUROMAT, after noting Croatia's violation of EU Law by not following the mandatory Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) notification process, expressed their concerns over the new gambling regulations.
- Jason Frost, President of EUROMAT, insisted that the European Commission should exercise its authority to defend the integrity of the European Internal Market, emphasizing the importance of maintaining compliance with EU law.
- Filip Jelavic, General Secretary of the Croatian Gaming Association, supported EUROMAT's stance, calling for the Croatian government to act with foresight and uphold EU regulations.
- According to data from the TRIS database, Croatia has previously followed the TRIS procedure in 2014 and 2023, making their recent non-adherence to the protocol a significant departure from their usual behavior.
- The proposed reforms have ignited a firestorm of contention among both domestic and international stakeholders, with concerns raised about the potential closure of a significant portion of Croatia's gaming venues due to an overbearing burden of new compliance demands.
