On September 30, the Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF) elected Dragan Skrbic, president of the Serbian gambling association AGOS, as its first president during a conference held in Bucharest. Joining him as vice presidents are Filip Jelavić, secretary general of Croatia’s HUPIS, and Sorin Georgescu, president of Romania’s ROMSLOT and vice president of FEDBET.
The newly elected leadership team will aim to lead BGF’s inaugural initiatives that advocate for the legal gambling sector in the Balkans. A significant focus will be on enhancing collaboration with the land-based trade association EUROMAT, which participated in the two-day conference along with the leadership election in Romania.
Since its establishment in Serbia in March, the BGF has prioritized strengthening its relationship with EUROMAT. Following the election, the federation stated its intent to position itself as a regional cluster within the broader EU trade association framework.
“This will allow the federation to consolidate the challenges, expertise, and positions of Balkan markets and connect them more directly with the European policy debate, while giving EUROMAT a more structured link to a region that includes both EU member states and western Balkan markets,” the BGF explained.
The BGF unites seven trade associations from the western Balkans: Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. Amid mounting pressure on the legal gambling industry in the region, the federation seeks to provide operators and suppliers with a unified platform. Currently, Croatia serves as the BGF's base, and the federation has issued joint statements on regulatory matters in Romania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
Filip Jelavić, the newly appointed vice president, expressed concerns about the rapidly evolving challenges posed by the black market. He attributes part of the problem to excessive regulations. “The relationship between regulation and illegal gambling cannot be ignored,” he remarked in July. “Experience across Europe increasingly shows that overregulation, particularly when not supported by evidence or impact assessments, can unintentionally drive consumers towards the black market.”
In recent years, several jurisdictions in the Western Balkans have intensified their regulatory scrutiny of the gambling sector. Bulgaria has repeatedly tightened its advertising restrictions, with the potential for a ban on affiliates in the future. At the same time, Romania has shifted gambling authorizations to local authorities, leaving land-based operators uncertain about their futures.
The new leadership of BGF will present its strategic priorities for 2027 at the New Horizons Gaming Industry Gala Dinner in Sofia on November 24. This event will mark the leadership team's first public engagement alongside representatives from the federation’s member associations.
The following day, the BGF will organize a roundtable featuring prominent companies and industry experts across the Balkans. Designed to become an annual fixture, this forum will address shared business interests, regulatory challenges, collaborative initiatives, and measures to protect the legal gaming sector.
Additionally, the BGF is in the process of creating a larger regional B2B forum that will include an exhibition aimed at strengthening industry connections throughout the Balkans. This event is expected to rotate between Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia.
Jelavić shared his aspirations for the federation in July, stating that he hopes it can emerge as a “credible regional voice” and a “relevant stakeholder” in discussions with government bodies, regulators, and European institutions. He highlighted, "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 bringing together operators, suppliers, and industry stakeholders around common goals, that would be a very successful start."
