Online Casino in North Macedonia: The 2026 State Monopoly Explained

Short answer: an online casino Macedonia residents may use must be run by the state. The Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games (Sl. vesnik 148/2026), in force since 14 July 2026, makes lottery, electronic and internet games a monopoly of a company wholly owned by the Republic of North Macedonia. The company that ran electronic games under the old law may continue until 31 December 2026; the new state company takes over by 1 January 2027. Foreign sites hold no licence, 307 domains are blocked, players at unlicensed sites face fines of EUR 1,000 to 2,000, and the minimum age is 18.

Below we explain the new law and the transition, how licensed online play will work (.mk domain, electronic ID, denar payments through local banks), the blocklist, advertising rules, tax and the land casinos in Skopje and Gevgelija. For the wider region see the Balkan Gambling home page, and for how to judge any casino site our online casino guide.

North Macedonia gambling law at a glance

The 2026 law: online gambling becomes a state monopoly

Parliament adopted the new law on 29 June 2026, and it was published in Služben vesnik 148/2026 on 6 July 2026. It entered into force on 14 July 2026 (Art. 193) and repealed the 2011 law with all its amendments (Art. 192). The Public Revenue Office publishes the text of the law as a scanned PDF.

The central change is Article 7(2). Lottery games, electronic games and internet games may be organised only by a company in which the Republic of North Macedonia is the sole shareholder. That company may hire outside entities through a public call (Art. 7(4)), but only it may apply for an internet licence (Art. 116(1)). The licence runs for ten years and costs EUR 200,000; the levy is 6% of lottery stakes and 15% of gross gaming revenue for other games (Arts. 115-117). A licensed internet site must use a .mk domain (Arts. 118 and 134).

The transition to 2027

Article 189 sets the timetable. The company that ran electronic games under the old law keeps doing so until 31 December 2026, and the new state-owned company must start operating by 1 January 2027. Several advertising duties in Article 22 apply after a six-month transition (Art. 180), so from about mid-January 2027.

Licensed operators in North Macedonia

The Ministry of Finance must publish a register of licences (Art. 14). We could not find that register online, and no official source we checked names the entity that holds an internet licence today. Searches for an online casino in Macedonia return several .mk brand sites, but without the register we cannot confirm which of them is licensed, so we do not list them. When the register appears, we will add it here.

What you can check yourself: a licensed internet site must be on a .mk domain, must ask for a high-assurance electronic ID and your personal number (EMBG) at registration (Arts. 123-124), and must take payments in denars through a bank based in North Macedonia. A site that lets you sign up with an email address and pay by crypto or an international wallet is not a licensed Macedonian operator. A .mk address on its own proves nothing, so ask the Public Revenue Office if in doubt.

Key dates

The blocklist of illegal online operators

North Macedonia publishes the domains it blocks. The Minister of Digital Transformation orders a block, and the Agency for Electronic Communications (AEK) forwards it to internet providers, which must act within five days. On 15 January 2026 the government announced 33 more blocked operators, 307 in total. The list is a scanned PDF on the ministry’s portal, which means you cannot search it for a domain name; you have to read it page by page. The new law does not contain an article on blocking payments to foreign sites.

Croatia is the only other country in our region with a public domain blocklist, and its list is a searchable spreadsheet with more than 1,400 entries; see our guide to gambling in Croatia.

Advertising rules

Article 22(1)(2) bans selling or advertising foreign games, including advertising the websites of operators without a Macedonian licence. Fines reach EUR 6,000 to 10,000 for a company and EUR 1,000 to 5,000 for the responsible person (Art. 170). Breaches of the internet-advertising rules in Article 135 carry the same company fine. Content rules ban ads that link gambling to success, celebrity endorsements and anything aimed at minors, and TV and radio ads must carry an under-18 and addiction warning. For that reason this guide contains no operator links and no offers.

Players: age, fines and tax

The minimum age is 18 for all games, casinos included (Art. 23(1) and (3)). There is no 21 rule, despite what some older guides say. Taking part in foreign games of chance, especially with stakes paid from North Macedonia, and in games without a licence is banned (Art. 22(1), items 1 and 4), and Article 173 sets a fine of EUR 1,000 to 2,000 for a natural person. We found no case of a player being fined.

Tax on winnings

Winnings are subject to 15% personal income tax, withheld by the payer. Lottery-type wins up to 5,000 denars are exempt; above that, the whole amount is taxed, which the state lottery confirms on its own site. The Public Revenue Office also requires a resident who receives winnings from abroad to file an e-PPD return by the 10th of the following month. That is a tax duty, not permission to play abroad.

Payments at licensed sites

For licensed internet games, stakes and payouts must go through banks based in North Macedonia, in denars for residents (Art. 121), and deposits may be made only by debit or credit card or electronic transfer (Art. 126(4)). We could not verify the National Bank’s position on payments to foreign gambling sites or on crypto, and we do not suggest any method to get around the law. Our payment methods guide covers the region.

Land casinos in Skopje and Gevgelija

Searches for a casino in Skopje or Gevgelija are about land venues, which keep operating under casino licences while the online market changes. Gevgelija, at the main road crossing to Greece, is known for large casino hotels, reportedly including the Princess and Flamingo venues. The 2026 law adds a rule that casinos and slot venues must be at least 500 metres from a school; it applies from 1 January 2028 (Arts. 24 and 190). The age limit of 18 applies at every venue, and venues must show contact details of a certified addiction institution (Art. 23(7)).

Responsible gambling in North Macedonia

Licensed operators must offer responsible gambling tools, including limits (Arts. 131-132). We could not verify a gambling helpline on an organisation’s own website, so we do not print a number; the state lottery’s customer line is not a helpline. Unlicensed sites are not bound by Macedonian rules. Our responsible gambling section for North Macedonia lists practical steps.

North Macedonia and its neighbours

For sports betting across the region, including which bookmakers hold which country licences, see our Balkan betting guide.

How we checked this page

On 15 October 2026 we read the Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games (Sl. vesnik 148/2026) from the scanned copy published by the Public Revenue Office, articles 7, 14, 22 to 24, 115 to 126, 131 to 135, 170, 173, 180 and 189 to 193, and the Ministry of Finance notice on its adoption. We read the government statement of 15 January 2026 on the 307 blocked operators and opened the list PDF, the Public Revenue Office page on taxing winnings, and the state lottery’s page on tax and age. We looked for the licence register required by Article 14 and could not find it. Written by Maja Horvat, reviewed by Stefan Nikolić. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Frequently asked questions about online casinos in North Macedonia

Can you play at an online casino in North Macedonia lawfully?

Only through the state. The Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games (Sl. vesnik 148/2026), in force since 14 July 2026, reserves lottery, electronic and internet games for a company whose sole shareholder is the Republic of North Macedonia. No private or foreign company can hold an internet licence, and taking part in unlicensed or foreign games is an offence for players.

When does the new state online gambling company start?

Under the transitional rules (Art. 189), the company that ran electronic games under the old law may continue until 31 December 2026. The new state-owned company must start by 1 January 2027. It will hold a ten-year licence costing EUR 200,000 and may contract outside companies through a public call (Art. 7(4)).

What is the minimum gambling age in North Macedonia?

The minimum age is 18 for every game, casinos included (Art. 23). Older articles and some competitor sites still say 21 for casinos; that is not what the 2026 law says. Online accounts at a licensed site also need a high-assurance electronic ID and the player’s personal number (EMBG).

Can players be fined for using foreign gambling sites in North Macedonia?

Yes, on paper. Article 22(1) bans taking part in foreign games of chance, especially where stakes are paid from North Macedonia, and in games run without a licence. Article 173 sets a fine of EUR 1,000 to 2,000 for a natural person. We found no published case of a player being fined.

Are gambling winnings taxed in North Macedonia?

Yes. Winnings are subject to 15% personal income tax, withheld by the payer. A single lottery-type win up to 5,000 denars is exempt; above that, the whole amount is taxed. A resident who wins abroad must file an e-PPD return with the Public Revenue Office by the 10th of the following month. That tax duty does not make playing abroad lawful.

How many gambling sites are blocked in North Macedonia?

The government announced 33 more blocked illegal online operators on 15 January 2026, bringing the total to 307. The Minister of Digital Transformation orders the blocks and the Agency for Electronic Communications passes them to internet providers within five days. The published list is a scanned PDF, so it cannot be searched by text.

Is there a gambling helpline in North Macedonia?

Venues must display the contact details of an addiction institution certified by the Ministry of Health (Art. 23(7)), but we could not verify a gambling helpline on any organisation’s own website, so we do not print a number. Ask your doctor for a referral and see our responsible gambling page for self-help steps and limit tools.