Intensification of activities to protect and improve public interest in the field of games of chance

The second session of the Coordination Body for the protection and improvement of public interest in the field of games of chance was held today, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Judiciary, and Anti-Corruption Momo Koprivica.

Deputy Prime Minister Koprivica commended the concrete activities already undertaken in this short period and the establishment of a solid inter-ministerial framework for further work.

All members of the Coordination Body welcomed the significant benefits of the amendments to the Law on Games of Chance proposed by the 44th Government. In just three months of this year, up to March, the Budget revenue exceeded 3 million euros compared to the previous year. This revenue, which previously ended up in the accounts of privileged organizers, is now available to finance various public needs such as school and kindergarten construction.

The session presented information on the excellent progress in establishing an information system for surveillance, crucial for regulating online betting and preventing money laundering and abuses related to obligations towards the state.

The Coordination Body actively collects information and evidence to initiate effective legal interventions, primarily criminal and administrative, to severely penalize abuses and eliminate the consequences of past unlawful actions, where private profit was prioritized over public interest.

Additionally, activities have intensified concerning the revision of procedures for granting concessions for games of chances contrary to the prescribed distance from schools. Concrete measures in this regard are expected at the next session.

Deputy Prime Minister Koprivica applauded the steps taken by the Administration for Games of Chance to refuse concessions to organizers who did not meet the prescribed distance requirements from schools, thereby ending the previous practice of abuse and law disregard.

The state will not allow the compromise of the system, as evidenced by numerous examples, particularly a case where a geodetic company issued falsified reports in over 90% of disputed cases of non-compliance with the prescribed distance of gambling facilities from schools.

Deputy Prime Minister Koprivica emphasised the importance of having strong institutional capacities to enforce activities protecting public interest in this area, primarily regarding the application of Article 3a of the Law on Games of Chance and Article 14a of the Law on Preventing Illegal Business.

In this regard, the Coordination Body has prepared a plan for decisive action against all harmful activities that have endangered children, exploited minors, destroyed families, and inflicted damage on the state. Notably, there are eight betting shops situated within a distance of less than 100 meters from a school in the center of Podgorica.

We continue with uncompromising and concrete actions to address this multi-decade problem, concluded the session.