The European Gaming and Amusement Federation (Euromat) has officially filed a complaint against the Croatian Government, claiming that recent changes to the country’s Gambling Act could harm fair competition in the market. The group says that the new amendments introduce major technical rules that affect how companies access and provide gambling services in Croatia.

Euromat believes that these new rules were introduced without proper consultation or transparency. The Federation argues that the government did not follow its legal duty to notify the European Commission or industry stakeholders before making the changes. According to Euromat, this means the new laws were passed without fulfilling its obligations.

Government Accused of Sidestepping EU Procedures

Euromat claims the Croatian Government ignored the standard EU process for evaluating national laws that could affect competition and trade between member states. Filip Jelavić, Secretary General of Hupis, a Croatian member of Euromat, said the government had deliberately sidelined stakeholders and EU institutions.

He explained that because the Croatian Government did not inform the European Commission, the new rules could not be properly reviewed. Jelavić said this lack of notice stopped others from checking whether the changes were fair and could hurt competition in the gaming industry. He also urged the European Commission to act quickly to look into the matter and make sure fair rules are followed.

Impact on the Croatian Gambling Market

The amendments made to the Gambling Act are said to contain detailed technical requirements that could make it harder for foreign or smaller operators to compete in the Croatian gambling market. Industry experts warn that such changes could limit access to services and favor certain companies over others.

Euromat argues that if Croatia’s actions go unchecked, it could set a dangerous example for other EU countries. The Federation says that other member states might also start ignoring notification requirements, which would undermine the consistency of EU rules and create unfair advantages in local markets.

Euromat Calls for EU Action

Euromat’s complaint is now being reviewed by the European Commission to see if Croatia broke EU rules. The Federation has asked the Commission to act quickly and make sure Croatia follows the proper process for notifying new laws.

In its statement, Euromat warned that if one country ignores EU rules, others might do the same. The group said this issue is not just about gambling laws but also about fairness and respect for the law across the European Union.

Euromat also called for better cooperation between governments, regulators, and the gaming industry to prevent similar problems. If the Commission supports Euromat’s complaint, Croatia may have to change or suspend parts of its Gambling Act. The case shows growing tension between national governments and EU institutions over gambling regulation.