Serbia has formally codified the regulation of jackpot games following the publication of a new Rulebook governing jackpot operations and prize systems in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia.
The Rulebook accompanies the implementation of Article 115b of Serbia’s Law on Games of Chance, setting out detailed operational, technical and compliance requirements for the organisation of jackpot games.
The reform establishes, for the first time, a dedicated legal framework for jackpots, covering system certification, regulatory approval procedures and statutory payout caps.
Under the new framework, jackpot games may be offered exclusively by licensed gambling operators, which must obtain prior approval from the Games of Chance Administration before launching any jackpot product. Approval is granted on an operator-by-operator basis and is valid for a maximum period of one calendar year, running from 1 January to 31 December.
Operators are required to submit a new application each year, supported by a certificate confirming compliance of the jackpot system, a formal decision from the operator’s competent authority approving the jackpot, and detailed rules outlining jackpot mechanics.
The Rulebook introduces a statutory cap on total jackpot payouts, limiting them to 20% of an operator’s annual net betting base, defined as the difference between total stakes and player winnings. The cap is calculated separately across betting, gaming machines and online games offered via electronic communication channels.
Serbia’s regulator has also imposed stringent technical and security requirements on jackpot systems. All jackpots must be operated exclusively through certified systems, with prizes awarded using random number generators (RNGs) that meet laboratory-approved statistical and integrity standards. Manual intervention in jackpot outcomes is explicitly prohibited.
Additional safeguards include mandatory encryption of data processing and storage, secure data-backup protocols, and real-time data exchange with the Games of Chance Administration, enabling continuous regulatory monitoring and the prevention of potential abuse.
The Ministry of Finance has stressed that the Rulebook does not introduce material changes for players, noting that the measures are aimed solely at regulating how jackpots are organised by operators, while ensuring system integrity, transparency and fiscal accountability.
Serbia outlook
The introduction of the Rulebook forms part of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) government’s ongoing implementation of reforms to the Law on Games of Chance adopted in 2024, which have prioritised regulatory control and technical supervision of the gambling sector.
In 2025, President Aleksandar Vučić ordered a nationwide enforcement sweep targeting illegal and non-compliant gambling venues, following public backlash over reports of underage gambling that positioned Serbia among the most affected markets in the Balkans.
The move marked a rare instance of direct presidential involvement in gambling enforcement and highlighted growing political sensitivity around consumer protection.
Opposition parties have since intensified pressure on the SNS government to revisit the scope of the reforms, calling for stronger customer-verification requirements and the introduction of specific legal protections for children and young people, including proposals to extend enhanced safeguards to individuals under the age of 21.
However, since the 2024 reforms were enacted, the government has faced sustained criticism that its approach remains largely technical, focused on licensing structures, IT certification and system accreditation, while falling short of delivering broader social protections aimed at reducing gambling-related harm among Serbian consumers.
The new Rulebook entered into force eight days after publication and forms part of Serbia’s wider efforts to strengthen governance, enforcement and technical oversight across its regulated gambling market.