Balkan Gaming Federation launches, targeting illegal gambling
Seven national gaming associations from the Western Balkans have united to form the Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF), a new coalition designed to advance the gaming industry across the region.
A Memorandum of Cooperation was recently signed in Belgrade during a meeting hosted by the Association of Gaming Operators of Serbia (AGOS), with co-sponsorship from Bulgaria’s Association of Online Gaming and Gambling Operators (AOGGAB).
A unified regional platform
The agreement brings together associations representing operators, suppliers, and technology providers from Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. While national bodies remain intact, the federation will coordinate policy, compliance, and commercial activities at a regional level.
The gaming industry in the Balkans has experienced rapid growth in recent years, led by Serbia and Romania’s booming online sectors. Serbia, for one, has generated over €214 million ($247 million) in 2024 and saw Serbian-made games being downloaded nearly 300 million times worldwide.
This expansion is supported by strong talent inflows, rising employment, and increasing international investment. For instance, industry employment surged by 98 per cent in 2023, reaching 4,300 professionals, partly due to talent migration from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Additionally, around 150 companies and teams are active, with 57 percent developing original IP, as reported by several media outlets.
BGF’s mission is to pool expertise and resources to combat illegal gambling, address unfair competition, facilitate the exchange of regulatory best practices, and coordinate joint lobbying on legislative matters.
Building partnerships and visibility
Beyond regulatory cooperation, the federation also aims to promote cross-border business partnerships, organise regional events, and launch shared marketing initiatives to raise the Western Balkans’ profile within Europe’s gaming sector.
As part of their meeting’s agenda, participants further explored market analyses, agreed on a provisional brand identity, and established international communication channels to organise future initiatives.
Industry context
The coalition was initiated by Serbian and Bulgarian associations, aligning with ongoing regulatory reforms across the region. The participating countries reflect diverse gambling markets.
In Serbia and Romania, the online gambling sectors have been strong, attracting international operators such as Bet365, Evoke, and Superbet (via its acquisition of Maxbet). Meanwhile, Croatia and Bulgaria have established land-based casino industries that are now expanding into online operations.
Additionally, Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to its fragmented regulatory environment, poses a challenge for BGF. Lastly, Montenegro is currently experiencing ongoing debates over planned tax reforms.
Recent regulatory developments include Bulgaria’s ban on sports betting for national football players and personnel, alongside an extended one-year self-exclusion programme that has already enrolled 54,000 participants since March 2025. Croatia is preparing to launch a similar national self-exclusion scheme.
European connections
A key discussion point was BGF’s relationship with EUROMAT, the European Gaming and Amusement Federation, which represents land-based gaming operators and manufacturers across Europe.
Some BGF members already belong to EUROMAT, but the consensus was to position BGF as a distinct Balkan cluster. In other words, being connected to European guidelines yet maintaining its own regional identity.
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