Find the Best Bookmakers in Bosnia & Herzegovina 2024 🇧🇦

History of Betting in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina prefer smaller wagers or amounts that will not deprive them financially while passing time with online games of chance. Gamblers in this nation enjoy online sports betting much like virtual gamers from neighboring countries like Croatia and Serbia. The Tax Administration of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina reports that locals gamble on sports for KM 1.3 billion (roughly $724 million).

This makes sports betting undoubtedly among the most popular pastime activities in this country. Promotions at betting sites in Bosnia are not only reserved for newbies; loyal players are also taken care of because neglecting them might cause them to lose interest in gambling.

The gambling industry took a new trajectory after March 1, 1992, when the country attained independence. Back then, the only lottery was permitted up until independence. Betting started gaining traction, culminating in a total of around 2500 betting shops in the country.

It is worth noting that Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) are the two entities that make up the nation. However, gambling was only regulated in the Republika Srpska but not in FBiH.

Betting Nowadays in Bosnia and Herzegovina

There is a huge popularity of mobile betting in the country. Almost every online bookie now has a mobile application to offer a quicker, more streamlined version of their site.

This is an excellent development that enables bettors to place precise bets whenever they want, anywhere, and at the right time during a sporting event. Punters not only place wagers through sports betting apps, but they can also track results and occasionally stream the action from the same platforms.

The most recent changes to the betting law in Republika Srpska increased taxes on winners. A system of differentiated taxes was implemented, with a 10 percent tax on winnings ranging between 1,000 and 10,000 BAM.

Then, a 15% tax is imposed on winnings that range from 10,000 to 50,000 BAM. A 20 percent tax is directed at prizes between 50,000 BAM and 100,000 BAM and a 30 percent tax is imposed on winnings above 100,000. This is a crucial piece of information that bettors require to keep in mind.

Most Popular Sporting Events in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia’s best bookmakers provide punters with a variety of sporting events they can wager on. Top of the list is football which holds prestigious events like the English premier league and the UEFA champions league.

Apart from that, other major events entice gamblers such as NBA in the basketball category and ATP, WTA, and IFT in tennis. Formula 1 enthusiasts also have a platform to bet on the Grand Prix event. Golf lovers can also bet on events such as PGA and World Tour Championship. Events such as NRL and Rugby league give rugby fans a chance to try their luck at different sites.

Popular Bonuses in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Some of the most important elements of bookmakers are bonuses which improve the betting experience of gamblers. They include everything from welcome promotions, deposit bonuses, and VIP perks.

Some of the top sports bookies in Bosnia give away sign-up bonuses that double or triple the player’s bankroll in addition to free bets. This enables gamblers to make more risk-free sports bets after using up their bankroll.

When players make their first deposit, a sports bookie may match it to 100%, which is equivalent to doubling those funds. Some betting sites give novice players free coins to try out games before they can stake real money. However, such free bets are only for fun because they cannot win a real jackpot.

Future of Betting in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The regulated market of Republika Srpska has encouraged an increase in gambling revenue. Nevertheless, there’s a bit of instability brought on by the two regions’ divergent approaches to betting. For instance, offshore bookies are not granted a local license. Following some planned revisions of the gambling laws by state officials, there are rumors that taxation may see another hike in the years to come.

Bosnian gamblers appreciate the friendly atmosphere in the industry at the moment. However, given the uncertainties surrounding their future in the nation, the same cannot be said for operators. Even though Republika Srpska and FBiH are within the same country, their gambling laws are significantly different and may take different directions in the future.

Are Bookmakers Legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Since 2011, both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska have permitted online bookmaking. To accept players from the nation, some bookmakers need a license while some don’t. However, Republika Srpska demands all operators obtain fully-certified licenses.

Betting Legislation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Since the political system of the nation is not unified and there is no state-level gambling legislation, it is crucial to comprehend this division. The Republican Gambling Authority (Republika Uprava Za Igre Na Srecu), a branch of the Ministry of finance, is responsible for issuing gambling licenses. Licenses for online gambling are given out in the Republika Srpska for five years.

International gambling websites without licenses are not currently restricted. In 2013, the government attempted to block foreign unlicensed gambling sites but their efforts were short-lived. The government lifted the ban following a public outcry and legal challenges to the country's ISPs filtering by the Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RAK).

Betting Acts in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Republic of Srpska’s National Assembly passed the law on gambling in March 2019- the Act on The Games of Chance which is the primary betting jurisdiction. The new law increased taxes for betting online through tighter regulation on payments and payouts. An international standard was introduced as well to protect players.

The taxation imposed on winnings from gambling games has also undergone certain alterations. Tax is collected depending on where the winner resides or where the event is being held. The local government unit in the winner’s place of residence benefits financially from tax profits. When a non-resident wins, the tax due should be calculated based on where the payment was received.

The 2019 Gambling Act added online games and video lotteries as new categories of electronic games, along with an electronic mechanism for monitoring the organizer. The public company ‘Lottery of the Republic of Srpska’ will have a stronger role under this law.

But according to the Ministry of Finance, no private company is allowed to host electronic games. The 2019 Act states that the only entity authorized to organize such games is the lottery of RS. This entity may also appoint another organization to handle these games.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Players’ Favorite Sports

Soccer is the leading sport in terms of popularity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also the favorite sport among bettors. Betting on this sport is inspired by players in top leagues such as the Italian league. Apart from soccer, other ardent fans bet on games such as Basketball, handball, tennis, and Formula 1.

Basketball consists of NBA games and tennis is divided into women's and men's games, i.e. WTA and ATP. Formula 1 fans mainly place their bets during the Grand Prix sporting event.

Best Odds for Bosnia and Herzegovina Players

The most common sports betting options are the home, draw, and away bets. The three-way odds, for instance, can be set to 1.35 (home), 5.9 (draw), and 5.8 (away). Gamblers always stake on the odds they think might have the best outcome at the end of the game.

This might apply to both live games, half-time, or full-time events. Wagers on the total number of goals come with odds like (over 0.5) 1.15, (over 1.5) 1.21, and (over 2.5) 1.30. Other odds are formulated based on the goal scorer. Gamblers stake on a player they think will score a goal or two within the 90 minutes margin.

There is a two-way system for setting odds for tennis matches. First, punters bet on the athlete with a high likelihood of winning. For instance, Petra Kvitova (1.25) vs Paula Badosa (1.62), means a punter should place a bet on either Kvitova or Badosa. Other options for choosing odds depend on the sets a tennis player wins, the number of games the player undertook in all sets, and many more.

Biggest Local Tournaments and Events

Bosnia and Herzegovina highly promotes all talent in sports. There is a lineup of sporting events that are held annually in this nation. The leading football league in the country is the premier league of Bosnia and Herzegovina which dominates in sporting events here. Track and field lovers congregate for the Sarajevo Marathon event held annually.

Cyclists also take the sport to next level by organizing an event known as Giro di Sarajevo. The main goal of this event is to make the Bosnian city a cycling-friendly area. Professional tennis players attend the BH Telecom Indoors, a tournament held annually which is also included in the ATP Challenger Tour.

Payment Methods in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Every online bookmaker in Bosnia and Herzegovina that is regarded as the top sports betting site has a wide range of accepted payment options. E-wallets, PayPal, VISA and MasterCard debit cards, and bank transfers are a few methods that are most frequently used.

Most reputable online sportsbooks typically accept each of these payment options. These payment methods differ in terms of deposit limits and payment fees. PayPal and bank transfers allow higher deposit limits. Other methods such as Visa, Maestro, and MasterCard are very convenient but players should beware of how much they expose their financial data. Debit and credit cards incur minimal transaction costs of around 2%.

The local currency in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the BAM which is supported by the best online bookmakers worldwide. Punters can make sports betting transactions via local methods such as BitPay, Paysera, and Hyperwallet.

In addition, some gamblers prefer to use cryptocurrencies such as BTC and ETH which are faster and safer. The least common mode of payment used is Neteller. This E-Voucher method only supports the deposit of funds into an online bookie account but not the withdrawal of winnings earned.

FAQs

1. What promotions are there for betting at sportsbooks in Bosnia?

Cashbacks, free bets, and deposit bonus matches are some of the most popular betting promotions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2. Does Bosnia and Herzegovina allow live betting?

On numerous online Bosnia and Herzegovina betting websites, in-play betting is offered. Even as the events are taking place, bettors can still place wagers on football games and horse races.

3. Is gambling permitted in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Bosnia and Herzegovina have no laws against placing bets at land-based or online gambling establishments. The first license was given to Williams, a recognized bookmaker in 2011, which marked the establishment of the nation’s online sports betting regulations.

4. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, can gamblers place a PayPal bet?

Many Bosnian betting sites use PayPal as a payment option. That should not come as a surprise given that e-wallets are among the world's safest and most widely used payment methods.

5. Are there sports betting apps available in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Numerous online sportsbooks offer fully optimized mobile apps available for download from the Google play store or App store. Each app contains terms and conditions on how to bet in/from Bosnia and Herzegovina for various sports. All the gambler’s favorite bet types are offered on the mobile version.

Most Popular Bookies in Bosnia & Herzegovina