{"id":2361,"date":"2026-05-30T19:55:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T18:55:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/?p=2361"},"modified":"2026-06-02T20:19:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T19:19:15","slug":"slovenian-gambling-industry-from-2005-to-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/slovenian-gambling-industry-from-2005-to-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Slovenian Gambling Industry from 2005 to 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><strong>How do the trends of the so-called seventh period <\/strong><\/h1>\n<h1><strong>of Slovenian gambling industry look? <\/strong><\/h1>\n<h1><strong>Can we be optimistic?<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Aljo\u0161a Komljenovi\u0107<\/p>\n<p><strong>Graphical Representation of Development Waves of Slovenian Gambling Industry from 1964 to 2020 and Beyond<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><b><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2349\" src=\"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"581\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika1.png 581w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika1-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 581px) 100vw, 581px\" \/>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Source: Komljenovi\u0107, 2023, page 147.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Slovenian Gambling Industry from 2005 to 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong><em>The analysis shows three key comparisons: the situation relative to the historical peak, long-term growth since 2005, and post-pandemic recovery.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>GROSS GAMING REVENUE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Comparison with historical peaks (2025\/best year 2005-2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Indices relative to best achieved year:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Overall sector: 90\n<ul>\n<li>Classical gaming: 102<\/li>\n<li>Special gaming activities: 80\n<ul>\n<li>Casinos: 76<\/li>\n<li>Gaming halls: 75<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Long-term comparison (2025\/2005)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Indices by segment:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Overall sector: 102\n<ul>\n<li>Classical gaming: 170 \u2705 (highest growth)<\/li>\n<li>Special gaming activities: 90\n<ul>\n<li>Casinos: 76 \u274c (largest lag)<\/li>\n<li>Gaming halls: 135 \u2705<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Post-pandemic recovery (2025\/2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>All segments above pre-pandemic levels:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Overall sector: 116\n<ul>\n<li>Classical gaming: 134 \u2705 (highest growth)<\/li>\n<li>Special gaming activities: 112\n<ul>\n<li>Casinos: 114<\/li>\n<li>Gaming halls: 107<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>VISITORS, NUMBER OF SLOT MACHINES, AND TAXES<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Comparison of the number of visits in 2025 with 2008, when Slovenia recorded the highest<\/strong><strong> number of visits <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Indices by segment:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Casinos and gaming halls combined: 52<\/li>\n<li>Casinos: 55<\/li>\n<li>Gaming halls: 49<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Comparison of the number of gaming machines in 2025 with 2009, when Slovenia had the highest number of gaming machines <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Indices by segment:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Casinos and gaming halls combined: 71<\/li>\n<li>Casinos: 72<\/li>\n<li>Gaming halls: 71<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Gaming duties in 2025 compared to 2008, when Slovenia recorded the highest amount of assessed gaming duties <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Indices by segment:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Classic and special games of chance: 91<\/li>\n<li>Classical gaming: 110<\/li>\n<li>Special gaming activities: 85<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Key findings<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Heterogeneous picture of Slovenian gaming.<\/li>\n<li>Classical gaming: the only segment that exceeds historical peaks and shows consistent growth.<\/li>\n<li>Casinos: despite post-pandemic recovery, still far below historical achievements.<\/li>\n<li>The total sector has stabilized and strengthened after the pandemic (+16%), but remains below its peak.<\/li>\n<li>With the exception of Classical gaming, we are still far from the best years of gaming.<\/li>\n<li>Within special games of chance, casinos continue to grow compared to the previous year, while gaming halls are recording a decline.<\/li>\n<li>The share of classic gaming in the overall gambling sector increased from 14.5% in 2005 to 24% in 2024, and further strengthened to 24.25% in 2025. The highest share of classic gaming within the overall gambling sector was recorded in 2020 and 2021 (just over 32%), which was attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic (closure of land-based casinos and gaming halls).<\/li>\n<li>Dramatic decline in visits to physical locations: footfall at casinos and gaming salons in 2025 reached only 52% of 2008 levels \u2014 meaning less than half of former traffic. To put it more starkly: one in every two visitors from 2008 no longer comes today.<\/li>\n<li>Reduction in the number of gaming machines as a sign of industry consolidation: the number of gaming machines in 2025 reached 71% of 2009 levels. A reduction of nearly one third of devices across both segments (casinos: 72%, gaming salons: 71%) is consistent and not merely the result of regulatory constraints \u2014 it reflects a rationalisation of capacity in line with actual demand. Concessionaires have adapted to declining footfall by reducing their offering, which is economically rational but at the same time signals a contraction of the physical special games of chance market in Slovenia.<\/li>\n<li>The fiscal impact on the state is disproportionately more pronounced in the special games of chance segment: total gambling levies in 2025 amount to only 91% of 2008 levels. Classic lottery games exceed their former record (index 110), while special games of chance remain at 85%. This means that, in real terms, the state budget collects significantly less from physical casinos and gaming salons than it did seventeen years ago.<\/li>\n<li>Data on gambling activities conducted online are not publicly available in consolidated form, which consequently represents a gap in analysis. Appropriately obtained results could serve better decision-making for the future, while also providing a broader view and overview of gambling activities in Slovenia and comparison with global trends.<\/li>\n<li>We estimate that the inclusion of a regional component in publicly available gambling data would represent an important addition to the existing reporting system. The introduction of such analysis would enable more precise monitoring of territorial specificities and development trends, thereby creating a stronger foundation for developing tailored approaches and measures that would more effectively address the specific needs of individual regions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Komljenovi\u0107, A. (2023). The Slovenian Gaming Model in an International Context: Proposed Changes (doctoral dissertation). Kranj: Faculty of Government and European Studies.<\/p>\n<p>Gambling Act (ZIS). Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 14\/11 &#8211; official consolidated text, 108\/12, 11\/14 &#8211; corr. and 40\/14 &#8211; ZIN-B.<\/p>\n<p>Aggregate data on gambling in Slovenia for the period 2005-2016, Aggregate data on gambling in Slovenia for the period 2012-2018, Aggregate data on gambling in Slovenia for the period 2012-2020, Aggregate data on gambling in Slovenia for the period 2013-2023. Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Slovenia. URL: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fu.gov.si\/drugo\/posebna_podrocja\/igre_na_sreco\/\">https:\/\/www.fu.gov.si\/drugo\/posebna_podrocja\/igre_na_sreco\/<\/a>, 3. 1. 2020, 18. 9. 2020, 25. 8. 2023, 3. 2. 2025, 15. 5. 2025 and 10. 5. 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Explanations:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>According to the Gambling Act, classic games of chance include numerical lotteries, instant win lotteries, quiz lotteries, bingo, lotto, sports predictions, sports betting, raffles, and other similar games.<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Special games of chance are &#8220;games played by players against the casino or against each other on special gaming tables with balls, dice, cards, on gaming boards or on gaming machines, as well as betting and other similar games in accordance with international standards.&#8221;<a href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Under Slovenian legislation, online gambling<a href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\">[3]<\/a> is not a separate type of gambling, but merely a method of organizing certain games of chance<a href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\">[4]<\/a>. Organizing certain special games of chance via the internet or other telecommunications means (online gambling) can only be done by companies that have a concession for permanent organization of classic games of chance or a concession for organizing special games of chance in casinos.<a href=\"#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\">[5]<\/a> Online games of chance are not permitted to be organized by companies that have a concession for organizing special games of chance in gaming halls.<\/p>\n<p>Gross gaming revenue includes total stakes minus paid winnings, excluding tips and entrance fees.<\/p>\n<p>In our opinion, the publicly available aggregate data for the Slovenian gambling industry and the way it is presented is not analytical enough, as the data does not show the share of special games of chance, nor the share of all games of chance organized via the internet or other telecommunications means (online gambling). The share of these by type of concessionaire (classic games of chance or special games of chance) is also not evident. This method of data presentation represents a deficiency and gap in further analysis and comparison of the Slovenian gambling industry at the European and broader global level, especially considering that games of chance conducted online or through other telecommunications means have been recording growth in both volume and share in the entire gambling sector in recent times.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> Gambling Act, Article 10.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\">[2]<\/a> Gambling Act, Article 53.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\">[3]<\/a> Games of chance via the internet or other telecommunications means. Gambling Act, Article 3a.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\">[4]<\/a> All types of special games of chance except betting. Gambling Act, Article 53.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\">[5]<\/a> Gambling Act, Article 53.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>ANNEXES:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Table 1 &#8211; Gross Gaming Revenue in Slovenia for the Period 2005 &#8211; 2025 (in million EUR)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2362\" src=\"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika21.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"752\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika21.png 752w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika21-300x212.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Source: Own work based on data from Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2005-2016; Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2012-2018; Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2012-2020; Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2013-2023; Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2014-2024, Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2015-2025, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Slovenia, e-source.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Graph 1 &#8211; Movement of Gross Revenue from All Types of Games of Chance in Slovenia in the Period 2005-2025 (in million EUR)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2364\" src=\"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika31-scaled.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"748\" height=\"546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika31-scaled.png 2560w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika31-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika31-1024x747.png 1024w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika31-768x560.png 768w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika31-1536x1121.png 1536w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika31-2048x1494.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Source: Own work based on data from Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2005-2016; Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2012-2018; Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2012-2020; Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2013-2023; Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2014-2024, Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2015-2025, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Slovenia, e-source.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Graph 2 &#8211; Movement of Gross Revenue from Special Games of Chance in Slovenia in the Period 2005-2025 (in million EUR)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2366\" src=\"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika41-scaled.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"742\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika41-scaled.png 2560w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika41-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika41-1024x748.png 1024w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika41-768x561.png 768w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika41-1536x1121.png 1536w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika41-2048x1495.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 742px) 100vw, 742px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Source: Own work based on data from Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2005-2016; Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2012-2018; Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2012-2020; Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2013-2023; Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2014-2024, Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2015-2025, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Slovenia, e-source.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Table 2-4 &#8211; Number of visits, number of gaming machines and taxes in Slovenia for the period from 2005 to 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2386\" src=\"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika4-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1167\" height=\"371\" srcset=\"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika4-1.png 1167w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika4-1-300x95.png 300w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika4-1-1024x326.png 1024w, https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slika4-1-768x244.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1167px) 100vw, 1167px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Source: Own work based on data from Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2005-2016; Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2012-2018; Compiled data on games of chance in Slovenia for the period 2012-2020; Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2013-2023; Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2014-2024, Compiled data on games of chance for the period 2015-2025, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Slovenia, e-source.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Note: This text has been translated from Slovenian language with the help of artificial intelligence Claude.ai<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do the trends of the so-called seventh period<br \/>\nof Slovenian gambling industry look?<br \/>\nCan we be optimistic?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2084,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gambling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2361"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2390,"href":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361\/revisions\/2390"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/komljenovic.si\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}