Calls for review of new Montenegro gambling law rejected
The government says the amended gambling law does not breach any constitutional rights.
Montenegro.- The government has rejected calls for a constitutional review of new gambling legislation in Montenegro. The NVO, a national association representing businesses in the gambling sector and the Montenegro lottery Lutrija Crne Gore had argued that concession rules in Article 106 of the recent amendments undermines constitutional protections against retroactive legislation.
The operators also argued that the article creates unequal treatment among operators with varying concession expiry dates and infringes upon “acquired rights” tied to existing gambling licences in Montenegro.
Montenegrobet, the association of licensed Montenegrin gambling operators, also expressed concerns, warning that new regulations impose unrealistic compliance obligations, disproportionate criminal-liability trigger, and licence-revocation grounds that could destabilise the legal market.
However, in a written response, Montenegro’s prime minister Milojko Spajić rejected these claims. He wrote: “After examining the submission, the government finds that the law does not have retroactive effect. The mandate over games of chance is of public interest, with exclusive rights for the state. Organisers therefore do not possess any rights that would be breached by the new legislation.”
He added: “The government ensures a transitional period of 270 days to allow all organisers to align their business operations with the new requirements, in all fairness to all, regardless of who they might be.
“The government ultimately decides that this disputed provision is not contrary to constitutional norms or international conventions, and that there is no prospect of bringing proceedings before the Constitutional Court with respect to Article 106 of the Law on Games of Chance.”
The modernisation of gambling regulation in Montenegro is a key part of the pro-Europe government’s ambition of achieve European Union membership by 2028. However, the reforms have also angered local media. Three major newspapers, Vijesti, Dan, and Pobjeda argued that restrictions on gambling advertising, which confine advertising to logo placements in sports sections only, unfairly target domestic private media and could jeopardise their financial viability.
The appeal follows the adoption of Montenegro’s updated gambling legislation, led by finance minister Novica Vuković. The legislation is intended to bolster public health and stimulate economic recovery, but it introduces advertising limitations.
In other developments, Fortuna Entertainment Group (FEG) has acquired a majority stake in Lob, a major Montenegrin betting operator with both retail and digital operations. It now holds 51 per cent of the operator’s shares and said it may increase its stake further in the future.
