Dragan Škrbi?, first president of the new Balkan Gambling Federation, which strengthens ties with EUROMAT

Dragan Škrbi?, president of the Serbian association AGOS, was elected on September 30, 2026 in Bucharest as the first president of the Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF), the new federation that brings together the associations of the Balkan gaming sector. He is accompanied as vice-presidents by Filip Jelavi?, secretary general of the Croatian association HUPIS, and Sorin Georgescu, president of the Romanian ROMSLOT and vice president of FEDBET.

The federation began to take shape in March 2026 in Belgrade, when the national associations of Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The initiative was promoted by the Serbian AGOS and the Bulgarian SOHIDB. Over the next few months, the seven associations worked on the governance model and common positions of the organization. Croatia will be its legal headquarters, and a working group led by Filip Jelavi? drafted the statutes and institutional framework.

Closer to EUROMAT

The election was part of a two-day programme in Bucharest that also focused on the relationship with EUROMAT, the European land-based gaming federation. On 29 September, representatives of the Balkan associations held a working dinner with the Euromat board of directors. The following day, its president, Jason Frost, attended the election of the GDB board, and subsequent discussions focused on strengthening the collaboration between the two organisations.

The idea is that GDB will consolidate itself as a Balkan regional cluster within the framework of EUROMAT, while retaining its own status, governance and identity. In this way, the federation could concentrate the problems, knowledge and positions of the Balkan markets and transfer them to the European dialogue. EUROMAT, for its part, would gain a more structured connection with a region that brings together European Union member states and Western Balkan markets.

The relationship is based on a solid institutional foundation: four of the seven GDB associations (AOGGAB, AGOS, ROMSLOT and HUPIS) are already members of EUROMAT. In addition, the region has a direct presence in the European federation through Károly Buzás (ROMSLOT) and Filip Jelavi? (HUPIS).

Holding the meeting in Bucharest also had a symbolic value. According to the federation, the Romanian licensed gambling sector is going through a period of significant regulatory changes, and the presence of the Balkan associations and the EUROMAT board was a sign of support for ROMSLOT and the country's legal industry. In its first months, the GDB has already issued joint positions on regulation in Romania, Montenegro and North Macedonia, with the idea that a national regulatory issue should not be isolated when it can affect the entire region.

First dates: Sofia, in November

The new management will make her first joint public appearance before the international industry on November 24, 2026 in Sofia, at the Gaming Industry Gala Dinner – New Horizons, where she will present her plans for 2027. On November 25 , a round table with companies and experts from the Balkan sector will be held, which will be the first edition of an annual event of the federation.

GDB is also preparing a larger regional B2B forum , with an exhibition area, which will be held on a rotating basis in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia.