€1.6 Billion in Six Months at Betting Shops and Casinos: How Much Is Tax, How Much Is Addiction
According to Public Revenue Office data, citizens left €1.6 billion in just six months at slot machines, casinos and betting shops — a record sum showing gambling in full swing despite new regulatory rules.
According to data published by the Public Revenue Office, citizens of Macedonia paid in €1.6 billion in just six months this year at slot machines, casinos and betting shops — a figure analysts describe as record-breaking and alarming relative to the size of the market compared to the country's overall economy.
The figure comes despite new regulatory rules having been introduced in the betting and gambling sector during the past period, aimed at limiting access and protecting consumers. Still, the amount paid in shows the sector remains "in full swing," with no visible sign of slowing due to the new rules.
The key open question is how much of this €1.6 billion actually returns to the budget through gambling and betting tax, versus how much represents a pure transfer of money from households to operators — a distinction directly tied to whether the state should view this sector primarily as a revenue source or as a growing social problem with consequences for family budgets and individual citizens' financial stability.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · October 6, 2026
