Gambling in North Macedonia is regulated by the Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games, and a new version of that law took effect in July 2026. Land-based casinos, betting shops and slot clubs operate under licences, and the law reserves lottery, electronic and online games for the state, which is to run them through a company it wholly owns. Offshore online casinos hold no Macedonian licence.
Many international online casinos still accept players from North Macedonia. This page explains what the law says, the risks of playing at sites the state is blocking, and how to try casino games for free first.
North Macedonia at a glance
- Land-based casinosLegal with a licence; the Ministry of Finance administers the law
- Online gamesReserved to the state, through a state-owned company
- Offshore sitesNo Macedonian licence; unlicensed sites are blocked by order
- Under 18May not take part in games of chance
- CurrencyMacedonian denar
- HelpNo official gambling help line; advisory services are listed in the FAQ
What the law says
The Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games first dates from 2011. A new law was adopted by the Assembly on 29 June 2026 (60 votes to 20) and published in the Official Gazette no. 148/2026. The Ministry of Finance prepared it and administers it. The Public Revenue Office, the tax authority, receives the data links from operators' systems and from gaming machines, which must carry GPS from 1 January 2028.
Under the law, the right to organise lottery games, electronic games and online games belongs to the state. The state exercises it through a company it fully owns, which may use outside suppliers chosen by public call. Private companies can no longer hold an online licence in their own name, according to law-firm guides. Anyone under 18 is barred from taking part in games of chance.
The new law also targets land-based gambling. Casinos (other than those inside hotels), slot clubs and electronic game premises must be at least 500 metres from primary and secondary schools, measured along the shortest safe route; BDK Advokati reports that this applies from 1 January 2028. Advertising is restricted and may not be aimed at minors.
- 2011 The original Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games
- 2024 Parliament passes amendments; the president returns them unsigned
- 2025 First order to block 53 illegal online gambling operators
- 2026 New law adopted in June and in force in July
- 2028 GPS on all gaming machines and the 500-metre school rule apply
Blocking of unlicensed online sites
In May 2025 the Ministry of Digital Transformation signed the first order, under the Law on Electronic Communications, to restrict access to illegal online gambling sites. It named 53 operators, and the order goes to the communications regulator to pass on to internet providers. The government has said hundreds of unlicensed foreign platforms have been blocked in total.
What that means for players
- No local protection: no Macedonian authority supervises an offshore casino or handles complaints about it. If a casino won't pay, you can rely only on its own complaints process and on the regulator in the country that licensed it, if any.
- Sites can disappear: a site can be blocked at any time and access can stop without warning.
- Check before you deposit: look at who licenses a casino, its payment and bonus terms and what other players say. Our casino warnings list operators to avoid.
Try the games for free first
You don't need to bet anything to learn how a game works. Our free casino games, from slots to roulette and blackjack, run in demo mode with play credits: no money, no sign-up and nothing to download. Demo credits have no cash value, and a good run in demo mode doesn't predict real-money results.
About the casinos listed below
The list shows casinos that, according to our data, accept players from North Macedonia. It is not a statement that they are licensed or legal there. Where we have reviewed a casino, its page has our review, ratings and player comments; check its current terms on its own website before you sign up.
Login with your social account