😱 Croatia🇭🇷: regulator formally requests payment providers to block unauthorized gambling-related transactions

😱 Croatia🇭🇷: regulator formally requests payment providers to block unauthorized gambling-related transactions

The Croatian Association of Gambling Operators (HUPIS) initiated relevant discussions with companies such as Revolut, Skrill and Paysafe. The objective is to prevent the processing of payments for operators that do not hold a local license.

💠 Context: Croatia’s state budget is estimated to lose approximately €250 million annually in unpaid taxes and licensing fees linked to unauthorized gambling activity.

💠 According to data compiled by the regulator, despite an explicit legal prohibition, roughly half of the illegal operators identified in the country continue to accept payments via bank cards issued in Croatia. The most commonly used instrument for facilitating such transactions is Paysafecard.

💠 Payments are largely processed instantly, without verification or restrictions. According to a test conducted by HUPISone year ago, Revolut demonstrated the highest level of effectiveness.

💠 Association representatives state that, during the testing period, withdrawal restrictions were applied inconsistently. Overall, HUPIS presents its findings as evidence of operational shortcomings, rather than deliberate misconduct by the financial institutions involved.

💠 HUPIS further reported that, following negotiations, several foreign operators providing access to Croatian players implemented corrective measures. Among them are Stake and Gamdom. The association emphasized that no criminal proceedings or formal threats were initiated against these companies.
The linked publication indicates that the relevant authorities were informed of the situation.

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