On 06.09.2024, at a session of the Legislative and Legal Commission and the Commission for Financing of Budget, the members of the two Commissions discussed the Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games. After the session, the two Commissions decided not to accept the Draft Law and it was not forwarded for further consideration.
In comparison to the current legal rule, the new amendments in accordance with the Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements of the Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games, stipulate the following:
- In Article 1 of the Draft Law, it was proposed that a clarification of the term “business premises suitable for organizing games of chance” is made, whereby it is stipulated that games of chance can be organized exclusively in rooms located in hotels with 5* categorization, which in order to be open must also meet additional conditions prescribed by the Minister of Finance, and
- In Article 11 of the Draft Law, it was stipulated that all operators of games of chance who display on their business premises names, advertisements, announcements in public places related to the operation of casinos, betting shops, slot machine clubs and indoor raffles, shall pay a monthly fee in the amount of 200 euros in denar equivalent for each m2 of the surface on which the name, advertisement and announcement is located. It is important to note that if this Draft Law were adopted by the Parliament, the specified compensation that would be paid by the organizers of games of chance to a separate account of the municipality in whose territory the business premises is located, would be used to support sports and sports activities of the municipality, persons with special needs, organizations of disabled citizens and associations of citizens to fight against domestic violence.
According to the proponents, the purpose of the unaccepted Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games is to prevent the opening of business premises for organizing games of chance and entertainment games in the immediate vicinity of primary and secondary schools, religious facilities , institutions in the field of child protection, the protection of persons with intellectual or physical disabilities.
Bearing in mind that this Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games was not accepted by the competent Commissions of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, it remains to be seen in the future how the legal matter in this area will be regulated .