On September 30, Dragan Skrbic, president of the Serbian gambling association AGOS, was appointed as the inaugural president of the Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF) during a conference in Bucharest.
Filip Jelavić, the secretary general of Croatia’s HUPIS, will assume the role of vice president alongside Sorin Georgescu, president of Romania’s ROMSLOT and vice president of FEDBET.
The newly established leadership team has been tasked with initiating BGF's first advocacy efforts for the legal gambling sector across the Balkans. A key goal of these campaigns includes fostering closer ties with the land-based trade association EUROMAT, which was present at the two-day conference that culminated in the leadership election in Romania.
Since its inception in Serbia in March, the BGF has aimed to strengthen its connection with EUROMAT. In a press release following the conference, the federation outlined its objective of becoming a regional cluster within the broader EU trade association, noting that this relationship would help to consolidate the challenges, expertise, and positions of Balkan gambling markets and facilitate their engagement in European policy discussions. This partnership is expected to provide EUROMAT with a structured connection to both EU member states and western Balkan markets.
The Balkan Gaming Federation unites seven trade associations from the western Balkans, representing Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. With increasing pressure on the legal gambling industry within the region, the BGF intends to offer operators and suppliers a unified platform. So far, Croatia has been chosen as the federation's seat, and joint statements have been issued regarding regulatory changes in Romania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
Filip Jelavić, also a vice president of BGF, highlighted the rapidly evolving challenge of the black market in the region, suggesting that stringent regulatory measures may contribute to this issue. He remarked, "The relationship between regulation and illegal gambling cannot be ignored." Jelavić noted that experiences in Europe show that excessive regulation, especially when not backed by evidence, could inadvertently push consumers towards illegal options.
In recent years, various jurisdictions in the Western Balkans have intensified their scrutiny of the gambling sector. Bulgaria, for instance, has consistently tightened its advertising restrictions and is considering a ban on affiliate marketing. In Romania, the shift of gambling authorizations to local authorities has left land-based operators uncertain about their futures.
Following the election, the new leadership of BGF plans to present its priorities for 2027 at the New Horizons Gaming Industry Gala Dinner in Sofia on November 24. This event will mark the leadership's first public appearance alongside representatives from member associations.
On the following day, BGF will host a roundtable event designed to bring together prominent companies and experts from the Balkan region. This initiative, intended to become an annual gathering, will address common business interests, regulatory challenges, collaborative projects, and the protection of the legal gaming industry.
Furthermore, BGF is working on establishing a larger regional B2B forum that will include an exhibition, aimed at enhancing industry connections across the Balkans. This event is expected to rotate among Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia.
Reflecting on the federation’s ambitions, Jelavić communicated hope that it could emerge as a "credible regional voice" and a significant participant in dialogues involving government agencies, regulators, and European institutions. He remarked, "If, after the first year, the federation is recognized as a serious regional partner, actively engaged in the fight against illegal gambling and capable of uniting operators, suppliers, and industry stakeholders around shared objectives, that would be a very successful start."
