Seven national gaming associations based in the Western Balkans combined to form a new regional organization called the Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF). The BGF will work to promote and strengthen the gambling industry in the Western Balkan region.
The BGF was officially created through a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) signed in Belgrade during a meeting organized by the Serbian Association of Gaming Operators with the support of the Bulgarian Association of Online Gaming & Gambling Operators.
The BGF brings together representatives from the gaming industry, including operators, suppliers and technology providers located in the seven countries represented: Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. The BGF will coordinate the industry on matters relating to policy development, compliance standards, business development and other regional issues impacting the members’ interests.
The BGF was formed to leverage the collective resources and expertise of the member associations in order to effectively combat illegal gambling, address issues such as excessive competition among member associations, share information about regulatory best practices in the region, and develop common approaches to legislative advocacy.
The BGF is a regional coalition of operators and gaming products that reflects the diverse makeup of the local gaming markets. For example, both Serbia and Romania have established themselves as destinations for large international gambling companies like Bet365, Evoke and Superbet, and countries such as Croatia and Bulgaria continue to develop their presence in online gaming while simultaneously relocating from operations that were once solely in a land-based casino environment.
Additionally, the BGF collaborated with representatives of EUROMAT to establish its relationship with EUROMAT. Some member organizations are already affiliated with EUROMAT; however, the BGF intends to position itself as a regional cluster separate from but in alignment with EUROMAT, utilizing the same regulations as EUROMAT to define its identity and main objectives.
