The Ministry of Finance has approved a new regulation setting out the procedure for verifying the reputation, integrity and origin of funds used to organize gambling activities. This bylaw stems from the adoption of the new Gambling Law and specifies in detail the documents that legal entities and individuals must submit when applying for a license to operate a casino, betting shop, slot machine club or closed-type tombola.

To prove that they meet the reputation criteria, applicants must submit the relevant documentation. Among other things, this includes information on sanctions imposed that prohibit them from practicing a profession, proof that no measure barring them from organizing gambling activities has been imposed, as well as information on other similar circumstances relevant to their involvement in this activity.

The regulation also introduces strict oversight of the source of funds in the share capital. By reviewing bank statements, contracts and financial statements, the Ministry of Finance will verify whether the movement of funds can be traced continuously from their origin to their payment into the company. The regulation also governs procedures for changes to the ownership structure and share capital, as well as the appointment of members of management and supervisory bodies.

The adoption of this regulation is linked to the provisions introduced by the new Gambling Law. One of them is an assessment of the reputation of the partners and associates of companies that have obtained gambling licenses. The assessment also covers members of the management and supervisory bodies of commercial companies that organize gambling activities and in which the state is the sole shareholder. This assessment is considered a highly important factor in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, and it is therefore proposed that the reputation of the individuals concerned be reviewed as a priority.

The new Gambling Law was adopted in June this year, with the aim of establishing a modern, clearer and more efficient legal framework for regulating this sector.

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A guerrilla action was organized in Skopje by “HERA Youth” and the “Roll the Dice!” initiative to mark International Youth Day. Through the event, the organizers warned that gambling and betting are becoming increasingly widespread and normalized among young people.

Data concerning younger age groups are considered particularly alarming. The ESPAD 2024 national survey shows that, over the past 12 months, 25 percent of 15- to 16-year-old students in North Macedonia gambled for money. The figure stands at 34 percent among boys and 16 percent among girls.

An increase was also recorded in problem gambling among students who gamble. The rate rose from 4.5 percent in 2019 to 7.6 percent in 2024. According to the initiatives, these figures should serve as a serious warning to the authorities.

“HERA Youth” emphasized that young people have easy access to casinos, betting shops, online platforms and advertisements promising “quick profits.” This comes at a time when they are facing financial insecurity, unemployment, mental health difficulties and a desire to leave the country.

According to the initiatives, the consequences of gambling are not limited to finances but should also be addressed as a public and mental health issue. The World Health Organization links gambling-related harm to debt, the breakdown of family and social relationships, depression, anxiety and a higher risk of suicide.

The young people’s demands include tighter oversight of betting shops located near schools, restrictions on gambling advertising, especially online, genuine age verification and more effective measures to protect minors. They are also calling for financial education, addiction prevention and mental health to be included in education.

“We do not want our young people to bitterly refer to the country as the ‘Republic of Gambling Macedonia,’” representatives of “HERA Youth” and the “Roll the Dice!” initiative said. They added that, in society, it is sometimes easier to find a betting shop than a cultural center.

ESPAD is an international study that monitors risky behaviors among students aged 15–16. More than 113,000 students from 37 European countries participated in the 2024 survey.

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Inspections were carried out at three different premises in the capital, on “Aleks Çaçi” Street, in Bathore, and on “Irfan Tomini” Street, where police found spaces suspected of being used for illegal gambling and betting.

During the operation, three electronic gambling machines, a poker table, chips, playing cards and five mobile phones were seized, all suspected of being used for this activity.

According to police, crime investigation specialists at Police Station No. 1 caught citizen G. Zh., 22, in the act, while M. Zh., 50, and A. Zh., 25, were declared wanted. They are suspected of having organized gambling in a rented premises on “Aleks Çaçi” Street, where two gambling machines, a poker table, chips and playing cards were found.

In another case, crime investigation specialists at Police Station No. 5 arrested citizen G. S. (J.), 39, after one gambling machine and a mobile phone, suspected of being tools used for gambling, were found in the venue he managed in Bathore.

Meanwhile, specialists from the Cyber Crime Investigation Section referred the materials to the Prosecutor’s Office for four citizens, S. G., 21, O. C., 19, R. H., 27, and F. D., 67, after mobile phones suspected of being used to organize sports betting were discovered during an inspection at a venue on “Irfan Tomini” Street.

The procedural materials were forwarded to the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office for further action.

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