Online casinos in Croatia: Best Croatian Casino Sites

History of casino gambling in Croatia

For much of the 19th century, in Croatia, the gambling sector was banned, as in most countries of the Soviet Union. Despite the ban, some types of games were allowed on government-run sites. Sports betting on certain events was also allowed, but always under the supervision and control of the government.

In the 1960s, Croatia became the first country in Eastern Europe to regulate and legalize the gambling sector, although control of it remained in the hands of the government.

The so-called tourist gambling grew by 1991 when the country gained its independence. In turn, the entire gambling industry in Europe experienced great growth, driven by the opening of land-based casinos in hotels in coastal areas.

Sports betting was also regulated shortly after independence, thus allowing private companies to operate as part of the Croatian market. At this time, Prva Sportska Kladionica and Sport Tip were the first to offer sports betting in the region.

Hrvatska Lutrija had a monopoly in the sector until 2009. As of the enactment of the Gambling Act in 2010, it ended the government's monopoly on gambling, in addition to legalizing online casinos in Croatia.

How are online casinos regulated in Croatia

Regulation of the gambling sector in Croatia is governed by the Zakon o igrama na sreću gambling law, which establishes the operational rules for offline and online casinos. The latter is also subject to the Code of Rules for the Organization of Remote Gaming. The Croatian Government and the Ministry of Finance must approve operators.

Gambling taxes in Croatia

To bring a clearer administration and fight money laundering, identity theft, and profit from gambling, the Croatian government has a taxation policy for the entire gambling industry. The tax rate will depend on the type of activity the operator provides.

The tax for lottery suppliers that applies to the sale of lottery tickets is 5%. Similarly, the tax on sports betting operations is also 5%. For casino companies, the tax is 15%, which is applied to the casino's gross income. In addition, there is a tax on slot machines applied to the gross income of slot machines of 25%.

Players must also pay tax according to their winnings:

• Winnings of 10 000 HRK — 10%.
• Between 10 000 and 30 000 HRK — 15%.
• Winnings over 30 000 HRK — 20%.
• Winnings over 500 000 HRK — 30%.

Top 5 best online casinos in Croatia

In Croatia, the online casino scene is flourishing, supported by a range of top-tier platforms that have gained popularity for their extensive game offerings and strong emphasis on security and user-friendliness. Let us review Croatia's top 5 online casinos, highlighting their unique features.

#1 Starda

Starda is known for its extensive range of classic and modern slot games, making it popular among Croatian online casino enthusiasts.

#2 1xBet

1Xbet stands out in the Croatian online casino market for its user-friendly interface, diverse table games, and live dealer options.

#3 GGbet

GGbet is recognized in Croatia for its focus on providing a high-quality gaming experience with a wide array of live casino games and unique themed slots.

#4 Megapari

Megapari appeals to Croatian players with its vast selection of online slots, progressive jackpots, and robust security system.

#5 22Bet

22Bet is popular in the Croatian online casino scene for its extensive library of games, including numerous slots and video poker options.

The best casinos in Croatia: Comparison

A detailed comparison can help players decide when choosing the best casinos in Croatia. In this section, we'll provide a concise yet comprehensive comparison of the top casinos in Croatia.

Main provisions of the Gambling Act

Both offline and online gambling are regulated and legal in Croatia. The document governing the industry is the Gambling Act of January 2015 or Zakon o igrama na sreću. That document specifies the following types of gambling: lottery games (including bingo), instant win games of chance (instant lottery, scratch cards, casino games), sports betting, video poker, and slot machines.

The legal age to play and enjoy gambling in Croatia is 18 years old. Also, the law demands that the user present a valid identity document to confirm age before entering a land-based casino.

According to the law, the government has the exclusive right to organize gambling activities. However, the Ministry of Finance has the power to transfer this right to private companies or non-profit organizations, as required.

The Ordinance also regulates online gambling on Interactive Online Casino Gaming. According to the law, all online operators must apply for a special online gaming license.

The most popular casino games in Croatia

Players in Croatia have a varied gaming market with national and international operators. Among the most popular games in Croatian casinos are:

Poker

Poker offers a lot of emotions, as well as great winning possibilities. The characteristics of poker have made it the favorite game of players in the country.

Slots

Online casinos in Croatia provide players with the best slots from the most famous providers. Slots are so popular because of the ease of play, variety of features, and possibility of big winnings.

Roulette

In Croatia, users enjoy more than ten types of roulette, such as American, European, or French roulette. Live roulette is also popular in the sector.

The most famous casino players in Croatia

Dragan Galic is one of the most popular Croatian poker figures worldwide. He started his career in professional poker in February 2008 in Austria. Galic excels in both online and live poker. He won the PokerStars Sunday Warm-Up twice in three months, which is a record so far.

Since his debut on the professional circuit, Galic has been a consistent player in Casinos Austria Poker Tour events. Among his most notable successes is a fifth-place finish at the 2009 EPT San Remo, which made him Europe's number one.

Future of online casinos in Croatia

The gaming industry's future in Croatia is promising, although it presents some difficulties that prevent faster development.

Most experts in the field suggest that the Croatian authorities should ease licensing requirements somewhat to attract more international operators. This would allow for exponential industry growth, allowing digitalization and innovation to contribute to such growth.