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Croatia has taken a significant step toward promoting responsible gambling with the launch of its nationwide Register of Excluded Players, which allows individuals to block access to all licensed gambling platforms voluntarily. The system, operated by the Croatian Institute of Public Health, became fully functional on November 1 and is being hailed as one of the country’s most comprehensive measures to prevent gambling harm.
Previously, gamblers could only self-exclude from individual operators, leaving many still vulnerable to addiction through other platforms. The new centralised system replaces this fragmented approach, ensuring that anyone who chooses to self-exclude will be automatically barred from participating in all online and land-based gambling activities across Croatia.
According to the HZJZ, the register is designed to protect people at risk of developing gambling problems or those already battling addiction. “The Register is meant to limit gambling access for citizens who request it themselves,” explained Mia Mardešić, Head of the Register at HZJZ. She emphasised that the new system protects privacy by allowing operators to check only whether a person is eligible to gamble, without revealing their identity or personal details.
Self-exclusion can be set for multiple durations, including 3 or 6 months, or 1, 3, or 5 years. For individuals who wish to stop permanently, a lifetime exclusion option is also available. Once registered, participants cannot request removal until at least three months have passed, regardless of the chosen exclusion period. Courts may also order exclusion in specific cases, but otherwise, it remains a voluntary process initiated by the player.
Applications for self-exclusion can be submitted independently or with assistance from social service agencies, healthcare professionals, addiction support centres, or licensed gambling operators. This wide accessibility aims to make the process simple and supportive, particularly for individuals already in treatment or recovery.
The HZJZ noted that European countries with similar centralized systems have reported more substantial reductions in problem gambling rates. The Croatian model integrates online and retail gambling under a single framework, offering authorities, healthcare workers, and social institutions a valuable tool to monitor and support those at risk.
Recent national data underscores the urgency of this initiative. The 2023 HZJZ survey revealed that 1.7 per cent of Croatian adults—around 47,000 people—experience severe gambling problems with damaging consequences for themselves and their families. A further 3.1 per cent were identified as moderate-risk gamblers. The findings also show that gambling is most common among individuals aged 35 to 44, with men significantly more likely to gamble than women.
By introducing this register, Croatia joins other European countries in tightening gambling regulations and promoting public health safeguards. The government believes the system will not only prevent harm but also shift the industry toward greater accountability and transparency.
The launch of the central register marks a turning point in Croatia’s gambling reform, reinforcing the country’s commitment to responsible play and aligning its policies with international best practices in gambling regulation and addiction prevention.
