Gambling regulation in Slovenia: what a concession actually means

What counts as a game of chance

Slovenian law defines games of chance as games where participants pay a fee for an equal chance to win a prize, and the outcome depends exclusively or predominantly on luck or another uncertain event. The whole point of regulating this isn’t to limit fun, it’s to keep gambling in a controlled environment that prevents money laundering, fraud, and other unlawful conduct, while protecting minors and vulnerable people. You can read the official source at gov.si, Igre na srečo.

Classic games of chance: lotteries, tombolas, loto

Classic games of chance include number lotteries, instant-win lotteries, quiz lotteries, tombolas, loto, sports forecasts, sports betting and raffles. These can be organised occasionally (only by associations and non-profit humanitarian organisations designated by the government, for example a one-off tombola or raffle) or permanently. For permanent operation, Slovenia allows at most two operators nationwide, each holding a government-granted concession for a specific game.

Special games of chance: this is where casino.si sits

Special games of chance are the ones played against the house or against other players: table games with balls, dice and cards, gaming panels, slot machines, and betting. These can only be offered in casinos and gaming halls, and only under a concession. The law sets a clear ceiling: the government can grant at most 15 concessions for casinos and 45 for gaming halls across the whole country. Every grant or renewal of a concession is a government decision.

What the concession means for casino.si specifically

A concession is the state’s authorisation for a company to organise games of chance under supervision. Casino.si is operated by Casino Portorož d.d., under concession contract no. 46110-7/2022/52, issued on 19.01.2023 by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, valid until 30.11.2027, tied to the physical Grand Casino Mons Ljubljana (Pot za Brdom 4, 1000 Ljubljana). In practice this means the operator works under the Gambling Act, is supervised by the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia (Special Financial Office), and, by law, funds generated from games of chance also help finance disability, humanitarian and sports organisations in Slovenia.

How to check a concession yourself

1. Go to the official page gov.si, Igre na srečo, where the ministry publishes the concessionaire registers.
2. Open the register excerpt for online casino concessionaires and check whether the operator is listed.
3. Compare the concession number and validity date with what the operator states on its own website.
4. On casino.si these details are collected on the Company credentials page.
5. If the details are missing or don’t match, think twice before registering.

What to watch out for

• There are no valid concessions for online casino games of chance outside Slovenia, which is why access only works from within the country.
• A concession isn’t permanent, it runs for a period set by the government and can be renewed or revoked.
• Supervision of the law is carried out by the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia, not by the operator itself.
• Gambling is meant as entertainment, not income, the outcome is mostly down to chance, so only play with money you can afford to lose.

For more on how this framework shows up in everyday play, see our earlier article, Legalne spletne igralnice v Sloveniji: kako igrati varno in po pravilih, on blog.casino.si.

Frequently asked questions

How many casino concessions can the government grant?

For special games of chance in casinos the government can grant at most 15 concessions, and for gaming halls at most 45, across the whole of Slovenia.

Who supervises the Gambling Act?

Supervision is carried out by the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia, through its Special Financial Office.

Where can I check whether an operator holds a valid online casino concession?

In the register excerpt for online casino concessionaires, published by the Ministry of Finance on gov.si.