Montenegro casinos are legal and licensed by the state, but the market is small: a handful of hotel casinos, most of them around Budva on the Adriatic coast and one in the capital, Podgorica. A new Law on Games of Chance came into force in August 2025, tightening the rules on licensing, online play and advertising. You must be 18 to gamble.
Is Gambling Legal in Montenegro?
Yes. Casinos, slot clubs, betting shops and licensed online sites are all legal. The main points under the current law:
- Law: the Games of Chance Act, in force since August 14, 2025. It is the first full rewrite of the country’s gambling law in about two decades and replaced concessions with an approval-based licensing system.
- Regulator: the Games of Chance Administration, which sits under the Ministry of Finance. Casino licences are issued by the government.
- Minimum age: 18 for casinos, betting shops, slot venues and online accounts.
- Online gambling: allowed only for companies that already hold a Montenegrin land-based licence, with one website per operator. Offshore sites are not permitted to take bets from Montenegro, and the authorities can order sites and payments to be blocked.
- Advertising: public gambling advertising is close to fully banned, and in late 2025 the government sent formal warnings to media outlets and seized unlicensed machines in venue inspections.
- Tax on winnings: since January 1, 2025, winnings above €300 are taxed at 15% (on the win minus the stake), withheld by the operator when it pays out.
Casinos in Montenegro
Montenegro’s casinos are all inside hotels or resorts. The main venues are:
| Casino | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maestral Resort & Casino | Pržno, near Sveti Stefan (Budva) | Casino inside the Maestral resort hotel |
| Merit Royal Splendid Casino | Bečići (Budva) | Inside the Splendid hotel |
| Merit Starlit Casino | Budva | Inside the Merit Starlit Hotel & Residence, run under a 10-year government concession |
| Merit Casino Montenegro | Podgorica | Inside the Hilton Podgorica Crna Gora |
Under the 2025 law, a casino licence runs for 15 years, costs a one-off €2 million, and requires at least 400 square metres of gaming space and seven or more tables. Casinos cannot open in mixed residential and commercial buildings. Expect table games such as roulette, blackjack, baccarat and casino poker games, plus slots and electronic roulette.
Sports Betting in Montenegro
Sports betting is legal through licensed betting shops and their websites. Two limits are written into the law: no betting on political elections, and owners of sports clubs cannot offer betting on their own club’s matches or league. Esports and fantasy sports betting are permitted. Read more in our sports betting guides.
Poker, Bingo and Lottery
- Poker: treated as a casino game, so it can only be played legally in a licensed casino.
- Bingo: not regulated as a separate product.
- Lottery: the law reserves the lottery for a company wholly owned by the state, but there has been no lottery operator since the end of 2016.
Online Gambling in Montenegro
Online casino games and betting are legal only on sites run by Montenegrin licence holders. Each operator pays monthly fees for online betting and for online casino and slots, plus a share of its revenue. Offshore sites are not licensed in Montenegro, and the regulator can ask the telecoms regulator to block them and banks to refuse payments to them. Readers in the United States can compare offshore and state-regulated options in our online casinos section.
A Short History of Gambling in Montenegro
Under socialist Yugoslavia, gambling was mainly a state activity used to raise money for public causes, and Montenegro had no casino industry to speak of. The first modern gambling law, the Law on Games of Chance, was passed in 2004, while Montenegro was still part of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. The country became independent in 2006.
For the next two decades the market stayed small. Neighbours such as Serbia and Romania built larger gambling industries. The 2025 law is meant to raise state revenue, protect minors and fight money laundering, and the government presents it as part of its push to join the European Union. Montenegro is an EU candidate country and uses the euro, even though it is not part of the eurozone. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić has set a goal of full EU membership by 2028.
Montenegro Casinos FAQ
Is gambling legal in Montenegro?
Yes. Casinos, slot clubs, sports betting and online gambling are legal when the operator holds a Montenegrin licence.
What is the gambling age in Montenegro?
18. Minors cannot enter casinos, betting shops or slot venues, or open online gambling accounts.
Where are the casinos in Montenegro?
Most are on the coast in and around Budva, including Maestral Resort & Casino near Sveti Stefan. Podgorica has one hotel casino.
Are gambling winnings taxed in Montenegro?
Yes. Winnings over €300 are taxed at 15% of the net win, and the operator deducts it when you are paid.
Can I use offshore gambling sites in Montenegro?
Offshore operators are not allowed to serve Montenegro, and the authorities can block their sites and payments. Only sites run by local licence holders are legal.
Please gamble responsibly. In the US, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.