The Balkan Gaming Federation strengthens its institutional roadmap, prepares a round table with Balkan regulators and reinforces coordination with EUROMAT in support of legal gaming business.
The Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF) has taken a new step in its regional consolidation after holding its second working meeting in Belgrade, where the federation defined its next institutional phase and placed the fight against illegal gambling at the centre of its strategic agenda.
During the meeting, organised by AGOS, it was decided that the federation will be registered in Croatia. This decision moves the process of building the new regional structure into its next practical phase and provides BGF with a formal framework from which to strengthen cooperation among national associations in the Balkan gaming industry.
Filip Jelevic, Secretary General of the Croatian association HUPIS and member of the Executive Committee of EUROMAT, was elected chair of the working group on the Statute. The group will coordinate the preparation of a text aligned with Croatian legislation, after which an online meeting will be organised for discussion and final voting.
BGF and EUROMAT Move Towards a Common Framework in September
BGF’s agenda will have a key milestone in September. On 29 September, the annual meeting of the EUROMAT Board of Directors will take place, followed on 30 September in Bucharest by the planned election of the first President of the Balkan Gaming Federation. The Romanian association ROMSLOT will host both meetings.
The sequence of the two events is intended to serve as a visible symbol of the partnership between the European and Balkan levels, of BGF’s place within the wider EUROMAT framework, and of their common support for legal gaming business in Romania and across the region.
On 24 November in Sofia, during the Gaming Industry Gala Dinner organised by AOGGAB, the first Balkan awards dedicated to legal business will be presented in several categories. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet the first President of BGF in person and learn more about the federation’s programme for 2027.
A Round Table with Regulators Against the Black Market
In parallel with these organisational decisions, BGF has started preparations for a major round table with Balkan regulators. The initiative responds to the growth of illegal gambling in the region, at a time when legal operators are facing increasing regulatory, financial and administrative pressure.
“The sector is still viewed through outdated perceptions, without sufficient understanding of its economic importance and the role of licensed operators. When regulations are adopted without analysis, transparency and real dialogue with the industry, they do not limit the problem, but weaken the legal market and open more space for the black sector,” said Milos Lalevic, Vice President of GPIS Montenegro, former Deputy Minister of Sports and Culture, and member of Montenegro’s negotiation team for European integration.
According to the information shared by the federation, conversations and meetings have already been held with leaders in the global gaming industry, as well as with independent international organisations specialising in certification, licensing, technical standards and regulatory compliance.
The planned format will bring together BGF, EUROMAT, leading international companies, independent experts and regulators from Balkan countries. Three topics will be at the centre of the discussion: the fight against illegal gambling, the protection of legal business and the need for more effective dialogue between the industry and institutions.
The objective is to bring together regional, European and international experience in a common format that can lead to concrete conclusions and clear messages for the competent institutions.
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