MONTENEGRO Law and Practice Contributed by: Luka Popović and Milana Savović, BDK Advokati
land-based gaming machines can obtain a licence for online gambling and offer betting on its website. There is an obligation for the operator to report to the competent authority on all games that they organise online and to submit rules for each online game of chance. The operator can have one initial website (IP (internet protocol) address, website, internet domain) for organising online games of chance. 6.2 B2B Licences (Suppliers, Software, Etc) Business-to-business provision of services in the gambling sector is not a regulated activity in Montene- gro. No licence is required for providers of software or services to a licensed operator as long as the provider itself is not offering the games to customers. 6.3 Affiliates The use of affiliates has not been under the spotlight of the regulator and there are no particular statutory rules or restrictions in this respect. 6.4 White Labels There are no particular licensing or regulatory require- ments for white-label providers. The regulator’s approach is generally neutral in this respect, and any type of arrangement for the supply of online gambling platforms or services to operators is permitted. 6.5 Technical Measures Under the current legislation, it is forbidden to partici- pate in games of chance organised abroad when the stakes are paid in Montenegro, or to collect stakes in Montenegro for games of chance organised abroad. These restrictions, in the context of online gambling, refer to legal entities that do not have authorisation to organise online games of chance, so the online offer- ing of offshore operators unlicensed in Montenegro is not permitted. The competent authorities have the obligation to prevent access to websites of unau- thorised online gaming operators, through technical measures that enable the blocking of all domains, IP addresses, and alternative network pathways, includ- ing the use of technologies for the identification of “mirror” or duplicated websites. In the event of cir- cumvention of the blockade, all associated domains and IP addresses may be blocked using geolocation and other network technologies to identify the source. The competent authority, in co-operation with the rel-
evant authorities of other countries, may initiate the blocking of access to illegal operators through inter- national information exchange and the use of spe- cialised software solutions. Additionally, financial and accounting institutions may be requested to block payment transactions and electronic transfers ena- bling the unauthorised online gambling. 7. Responsible Gambling (RG), Also Known as Safer Gambling (SG) 7.1 RG Requirements One of the most notable changes introduced by the new Games of Chance Act is the stronger focus placed on reducing the social risks associated with gambling, particularly the protection of minors and the prevention of gambling addiction. Operators are required to effectively prevent minors from participat- ing in gambling and provide accessible information regarding assistance for gambling-related issues. Operators must display a 100 x 80 cm poster near the entrance of each gaming venue, containing: • warnings about gambling addiction; • responsible gaming guidelines; • notice of prohibition of entry for individuals under 18; • information on the potential harms of gambling; • contact details for addiction prevention support; • information on obtaining proof of winnings; • hours of operation; and • contact information for certified treatment centres. Brochures containing the same information must be available at each registration counter. All adver- tisements, including indirect references to games of chance, must include a notice prohibiting participa- tion by minors and an appropriate warning regarding addiction prevention. Gambling rules must expressly prohibit participation by minors. 7.2 Gambling Management Tools The new Games of Chance Act introduces a self-exclu- sion mechanism, allowing players to request exclu- sion, set loss limits, or restrict maximum bet amounts, either in writing or electronically. Self-exclusion may
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