2. Best Betting sites in Croatia

Best Betting sites in Croatia

Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011
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Top Bookmakers for Betting in Croatia

Here is our table with the best betting sites for Croatian punters. You can learn more about their bonus offers and their strong positions on the market.

Top Betting Sites in Croatia Ranked

Introduction

Croatia is a country that covers over 56,594 square kilometres and is located in central Europe. With a population of 4.047 million, it borders the countries of Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Recognized as an independent state, this best betting sites in Croatia guide will look closer at betting in the country. In doing so, we cover the countries gambling laws and include various facts and other betting information. In addition to the information above, this guide contains a list of Croatia’s top 5 betting sites.

Interesting facts about betting in Croatia

With Croatia located close to the Adriatic Sea and the heartland of central Europe, it is full of interesting facts. While many of those are historical, many others are related to culture, social economics and gambling. With that in mind, here is a list of interesting facts about betting in Croatia:

  • The largest service industry in Croatia is the gambling industry. It accounted for almost €540 million in revenue in 2019.
  • It is estimated that by taxing the online gaming industry, Croatia will add an additional €270 million in annual tax revenue.
  • The highest revenue ever recorded by a Croatian sportsbook was in 2019 when the betting shop chain Super Sport reported yearly revenue of €84 million.
  • The betting industry in Croatia is responsible for the employment of over 6,700 people. It contributes around 39 million Kuna in salaries to the countries economy.
  • Since legalizing gambling in 2010, the Croatian Ministry of Finance has issued licenses to over 70 betting companies.
  • The most popular form of betting in Croatia is the state lottery. It accounts for more than 60% of all bets made in the country.

Gambling Legislation and Laws In Croatia

Gambling in the Republic of Croatia has been legal since 2014 when the country passed its gambling law ‘Zakon o igrama na sre?u’. The act governs all forms of gambling within Croatia, including lottery games, games of chance, slot machines, and sports betting. All operators are required to be licensed by the Croatian Ministry of Finance and pay licensing fees and taxes.

As the Ministry is responsible for regulating, enforcement and taxation, the taxes payable are based on four gaming categories. This includes a 5% tax on lottery ticket sales, 5% tax on betting turnover, 15% tax on gross gambling casino revenue, and 25% on gross slot revenue.

In addition to corporate taxes, the Zakon o igrama na sre?u’ act has provided the taxation of player winnings. In Croatia, this includes a 10% tax on winnings under 10,000 Kuna, 15% tax on winnings between 10,000 and 30,000 Kuna, and 20% tax on amounts over 30,000 Kuna.

In 2014, the ‘Zakon o igrama na sre?u’ was amended to manage and regulate online operators. The amended act allows local land-based operators already issued a land-based gambling license to offer online services. However, Croatia is working on introducing new legislation that would allow foreign betting sites to license and legally operate within the country.

What are the Top 5 Online Betting Sites in Croatia?

The top 5 online betting sites in Croatia include Campobet, Librabet, Pinnacle Sports, 20bet and GG.bet. As top Croatian betting sites, they rank highest among overall performance and player satisfaction. Here is a short summary of what each has to offer Croatian bettors:

#1 Campobet

Campobet is a top-rated Croatian bookmaker owned and operated by the Tranello Group. Based in Cyprus, the brand is licensed to operate throughout Europe and other parts of the world. As a licensed bookmaker, Campobet offers live and pre-match sports betting for over 30 sport types. In addition to its generous sports coverage, the bookie covers and provides favourable odds for over 700 markets.

As Campobet is a multi-national betting company, it also offers various other betting services. They range from virtual sports betting opportunities to live casino and casino gaming. Represented by multiple software companies, the casino features popular games such as slots, jackpot and table games.

homepage of campobet
  • Pros
  • Pre-match and live betting for 30+ sports markets
  • Tutorial videos for betting on sports and virtual
  • Live betting and streaming
  • Cons
  • Does not offer statistical or analytics

Visit Campobet

#2 Librabet

Librabet is a Curacao licensed online bookmaker established in 2018 and operated by Araxio Development N.V. As a traditional bookmaker, punters have the pleasure of betting on pre-match and live sporting events. With over 30 sports markets and top leagues like LaLiga and Serie A, football is its most predominant sport. Each week, Librabet provides hundreds of events and includes virtuals and eSports amongst its available betting options.

Furthering its commitment to delivering a world-class betting site, the bookie includes a casino and live casino gaming. In this respect, they compete on a level few other bookmakers are capable of with over 5,000 games on tap. Moreso, they feature tournaments and a respectable range of promotions for both sports and casino.

homepage of librabet
  • Pros
  • Offers over 30 sport types
  • Substantial market coverage for football and basketball
  • The casino is populated with over 5,000 games
  • Cons
  • Live streaming unavailable

Visit Librabet

#3 Pinnacle

Pinnacle has stood the test of time since opening over 20 years ago. As a licensed and respected bookmaker, Pinnacle has built a reputation of trust throughout Europe and abroad. Since opening, they have continually expanded their betting portfolio to include more than 20 sports and include over 1,000 events monthly. Along with their generous coverage of sporting events, Pinnacle has a reputation for competitive odds, player-friendly options and alternative gaming options.

In terms of their alternative gaming options, they include popular entries such as esports and virtual sports. The bookie also contains a generous appointed live casino and an equally impressive online casino. Both are available for mobile betting via the Pinnacle mobile apps and website.

homepage of pinnacle
  • Pros
  • 1,000+ monthly sports events
  • Excellent punter preferred betting options
  • Online casino, esports and virtual betting
  • Cons
  • Live streaming not available

Visit Pinnacle

#4 20bet

20bet is the leading brand for sports betting in Croatia. As a top Croatian betting site, 20bet offers a high number of sports for live and pre-match betting.

In addition to the bookie offering a variety of betting features, punters will be met with casino, live casino and other gaming options. They are delivered via several top-rated software companies and include a slots, video poker and other table games.

homepage of 20bet
  • Pros
  • Included betting options for various sports markets
  • Excellent betting market representation
  • Mobile app for Android and iOS
  • Cons
  • Do not offer croatian language

Visit 20Bet

#5 GG.bet

GGbet is one of the most established bookies on our list of Croatian betting sites. As an established bookmaking site, GG.bet has built a reputation as top-rated eSports bettig site. The GG.bet platform offers over 20 sports for punters to be on and includes hundreds of daily events. Available for pre-game and live betting, the bookie’s odds are competitive, and its betting features are in line with industry standards.

The bookie will also appeal to online slots and live casino gaming enthusiasts. Each offers bettors multiple opportunities, and they have access to live streaming and numerous betting markets for esports bettors. As for other GGbet, platform features include statistics, results, pre-match analysis, and mobile betting.

homepage of ggbet
  • Pros
  • Coverage for 20 sports and international sports leagues
  • Android mobile app
  • Top rated eSports betting markets
  • Generous Welcome bonus
  • Cons
  • Lack of virtual sports

Visit GGbet

Competition between Operators

Resultant of the gambling laws in Croatia and its 70+ licensed operators, competition is a healthy addition to the landscape. Previously a monopolized state held by the government, competition is dispersed across its sports betting and land-based operators. However, while competing casinos and sportsbooks regularly offer incentives, they are limited due to tax restraints.

Adding to the competition between operators is online operations. While current laws only allow land-based licensed operators to offer online betting, they contend with offshore operators. For the most part, this creates an unfair advantage for offshore operators due to their not being required to pay taxes. However, this is likely to change with new legislation, creating a more competitive playground amongst Croatia’s betting industry.

Bonuses from Croatian Bookmakers

The bonuses from Croatian bookmakers is always a topic of interest for Croatian players interested in betting online. These are expectantly similar to others seen with central European bookmakers, and most focus on new player promotions. Where bonuses take a turn for the better is via online bookmakers. In this case, these can be lucrative and include options, from sports to casino and all those in between.

Betting Features and Options in the Croatian Bookmakers

Betting features have long been established as a defining tool for bookmakers to attract punters to their sportsbooks. Considering the nature of sports betting, the most common features seen with Croatian bookmakers focus on enhancing the player experience. A brief summary is included below to provide a better idea of those most likely available.

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Live Streaming
One of the common features Croatian bookmakers will offer is live streaming. To complement the sports betting experience, live streaming is most commonly provided for popular sports like football, basketball and esports.

Live Betting
Another common feature for Croatian bookmakers is the addition of live betting. This is almost always an available option for all sports markets a bookie includes within its sportsbook. As the feature suggests, bets are placed in real-time, and markets resemble those seen in pre-match betting.

Cash Out
This option is designed to let bettors opt-out of bets early if they have lost confidence in an event’s outcome. This feature is slightly less frequent than lie betting but still readily available with Croatian bookmakers. Although, availing of this option does come at a cost as the bookie will retain part of the staked bet as a cancellation fee.

Live Betting Odds
The competitive nature of live betting has resulted in bookmakers constantly competing to offer the best live betting odds. While more an option than a feature, it offers punters the advantage of increased profitability.

What are the available Payment Methods in Croatia?

The available payment methods in Croatia include debit, and credit cards, bank transfers, ewallets, and cryptocurrencies. As the most common methods, punters have the option to choose which is more fiscally feasible. This applies to depositing and withdrawing, so consideration is essential when transacting with an online bookie.

Most bookies will cover the processing fees for credit card and ewallet transactions. In contrast, debit and crypto transactions are not covered. The processing fees are minimal for cryptos, as they are for debit, but both provide increased privacy. Another factor for Croatians to give consideration is the minimum transaction requirements. This ranges from 75 to 185 Croatian Kuna for deposits and 185 and 750 Croatian Kuna for withdrawals at most bookies.

What are the Mobile Betting options in Croatia?

The mobile betting options in Croatia vary from mobile websites to mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. As mobile betting is an integral part of betting for most Croatian punters, making the right choice is crucial.

If opting for mobile websites, the advantage is the inherent privacy of using a mobile browser. The reasoning for this is removing having to install software for access, thereby allowing users to delete browsing histories.

On the other hand, mobile apps provide a more stable platform that auto-updates as new features are added. Their advantage is extended to the freedom they provide and the ability to remain logged in for quick access.

Are Online Casinos available in Croatia?

As of 2017, online casinos became legal in Croatia with the amending of its gambling law. The amended gambling law allows licensed land-based operators to provide online casino gaming. Under the new amendment, this excluded online operators unlicensed by the Croatian Ministry of Finance.

However, current law does not prevent offshore casinos from offering their services. Resultantly, Croatians are left to choose between licensed Croatian casinos or those operating offshore. The casino services they can access include games of chance, slots, video poker, lotteries, bingo and poker.

What are the Leading sports for betting in Croatia?

The leading sports for betting in Croatia are Football, Handball, Basketball, Water Polo and Tennis. As leading Croatian sports, they play a dominant role in the betting schedules for online bookies. While most Croatians are familiar with these sports, it is crucial to understand why they are leading sports. As such, a short introduction is provided below:

  • Football
    Football is the most popular sport wagered on and played by Croatians. The sport is played in domestic leagues, at the national level, and is managed by the Croatian Football Federation.
  • Handball
    Handball is a popular sport in Croatia due to the Croatian Handball Federation and the countries affiliation with the International Handball Federation. Along with international events, handball is played at the continental level and domestically.
  • Basketball
    Like other European nations, basketball is a popular choice for Croatian punters. This is a result of its domestic leagues, national team, Olympic team, and its membership with FIBA Europe.
  • Water Polo
    Less famous than football and basketball, water polo’s position as a leading sport runs deep in Croatia. The sports are mainly played by the Croatia men’s national water polo team and domestically in the Wild League.
  • Tennis
    Tennis also ranks high with bettors due to the prominence the sport carries on the ATP tour. Along with the country hosting the ATP Tour, Croatia is represented in the Fed Cup and Davis Cup, both prominent events in tennis.

The profile of a Croatian Bettor

The profile of a Croatian bettor in relation to betting preferences and age demographics resembles that of most other European countries. The largest percentage of bettors in Croatia favour sports betting offer games of skill or chance. This is followed by an average of 32% of bettors favouring casino games and 13% lottery. In addition, 79% of bettors favoured land-based betting versus 20% preferring to wager online.

Unfortunately, information relating to age demographics was unavailable other than the typical bettor in Croatia is male. Nor was information about the social economics of the average bettor and whether gambling activities accounted for problem gambling. However, the National Center for Biotechnology Information reports shows that problem gambling is most prevalent in adolescents versus adult bettors.

FAQ about betting in Croatia

Is online betting legal in Croatia?

Yes, online betting in Croatia is legal and has been since 2017.

Are there any taxes for Croatian players on their winnings?

Yes, Croatians must pay taxes ranging between 10 and 30% based on their winnings.

Can I open an account and play in HRK?

Yes, you are welcome to open an account, deposit and wager in HRK.

Are there any betting restrictions for Croatian players?

No, Croatians have the liberty to bet online or via land-based gambling venues.

What is the legal age for gambling in Croatia?

The legal age for gambling online or at land-based establishments in Croatia is 18.

Do Croatian offshore sportsbooks offer daily fantasy betting?

Offshore bookmakers offer daily fantasy betting, although DFA’s availability depends on each bookmaker.

Is online bingo legal in Croatia?

Yes, while there are no laws that specifically legalize bingo, online bingo is legal in Croatia based on the gambling act legalizing games of chance.

Our final verdict on betting in Croatia

While the Croatian government monopolised the initial legalization of gambling in Croatia, it has since taken a more modern approach. This came into fruition with the amendment and subsequently legalization of online gaming in 2017. While the country still has yet to introduce legislation for the licensing of offshore operators, new legislation has been proposed. If successful in their bid to legalize and authorise offshore operators, Croatia will be on equal footing with other EU countries. For Croatian bettors, that is the ideal solution.