Nearly One in Four Slovaks Gamble on Unlicensed Sites

A new report has revealed that nearly one in four Slovakian online gamblers are using unlicensed platforms, raising alarms about the actual scale of illegal betting in the country.

Slovakia’s First Big Illegal Online Gambling Survey 

The study, published under the title “The Black Book on Illegal Gambling” by the Institute for the Regulation of Gambling (IPRHH) in partnership with the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), is the country’s first representative survey of illegal online gambling. 

The survey, which mixed analysis, case studies, and a nationwide survey of 2,000 people between the ages of 18 and 75, found that roughly 28.2% of adults, which is approximately 1.24 million Slovaks, had gambled online in the past year. 

Of these, 23.7% (296,000) admitted to playing on unlicensed platforms. In comparison, another 24.1% said they had doubts regarding the legality of the provider, meaning that more than half a million Slovaks may have been active on illegal sites.

The survey also looked into the reasons why players choose to turn to operators located offshore, with better bonuses on top of the list at 32.5%, followed by better odds (29.5%), quicker sign-up processes (29.1%), a broader selection of games (27.4%), and more generous jackpots (27%). Alarmingly, just 42.2% of respondents said they make a habit of checking whether a gambling site holds a Slovak licence.

“These sites ignore every safeguard that licensed operators must follow,” said IPRHH’s executive director Dávid Lenčéš, who also mentioned the lack of limits, identity checks, and protection against addiction. “And if you lose money, you have no legal recourse.”, Lenčéš added. 

Big Money Reaches  Illegal Operators Each Year

The report estimates that Slovaks spend an average of EUR 85 (USD 98.5) per month on illegal gaming platforms, bringing the total to over EUR 300 million (USD 347.8 million) annually. When including those who cannot distinguish legal from illegal operators, the figure could exceed EUR 600 million (USD 695 million).

The research also highlighted confusion around advertising, with 43.2% of study participants saying they were unable to distinguish between gambling ads promoting licensed or unlicensed sites. However, 17.5% believed unlicensed ads were more prevalent.

The publication also warned of specific risks tied to underage players, specifically pointing to loot boxes in video games and gambling promotions by influencers and streamers and noting that illegal operators frequently skip age verification.

To counter the problem, the IPRHH recommends the implementation of stricter enforcement measures, including asking banks to block all payments to unlicensed platforms, cutting the time needed to block a website, or reducing deposit fees on legal sites. Other suggestions refer to the use of a “Markers of Harm” system via AI to detect illegal advertising and better cooperation with major tech companies such as Google and Apple to remove unlicensed apps.