Most Popular Bookies in Slovakia

Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Slovakia. Slovakia is unique, given that most European nations consider football their favorite. The country created its first ice hockey national team following the break-up of Czechoslovakia.

The new dispensation makes it possible for Slovak ice hockey enthusiasts who had been previously frozen out when the country was part of the merger to exploit their talent. The team went on to win the 2002 World Championships hosted in Sweden.

For bettors, ice hockey offers a chance to wager on some of the hottest events in the world. Of course, most Slovakians bet on NHL matches, but this does not mean that Slovakia lacks top hockey matches with good betting opportunities. As a matter of fact, Slovakia's Tipos Extraliga is one of the most prestigious hockey competitions in Europe.

On top of ice hockey, other popular sports with excellent betting opportunities in Slovakia include the following:

Football

As with almost European nations, football is one of the most popular sports in Slovakia. The Slovakian national team has made great strides recently, having participated in the European Championships before.

With most of the national team's players plying their trade in European top-flight leagues, it is understandable why football is such a popular sport in the country. The Fortuna Liga, the country's top domestic league, only increases Slovaks' love for the sport.

Football fans in Slovakia usually wager on their domestic competitions as well as foreign leagues, especially the English Premier League. La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and French League one also offer some of the best opportunities to bet.

Other Popular Sports to Bet on in Slovakia

• Tennis
• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Cycling

Best Odds for Slovakian Players

Those who know how to bet in/from Slovakia understand the importance of finding the best odds. With both local and international bookies offering services in the country, every service provider does its best to attract players. That's why odds will always differ from one operator to another. Knowing which online bookmaker offers the best odds takes a bit of research.

Biggest Local Tournaments and Events in Slovakia

• Fortuna Liga (football)
• Slovac Cup (football)
• Tipos Extraliga (hockey)
• Slovak Basketball League

As one would expect, the biggest sporting events in Slovakia are those related to popular sports. These events provide the best betting opportunities, and they include the following:

• FIFA World Cup
• English Premier League
• La Liga
• Bundesliga
• Serie A
• League 1
• UEFA Champions League
• UEFA Europa League
• NBA
• Major League Soccer
• Slovak Super Liga
• Olympics

The ability of Slovakians to gamble is a fairly recent development in the country. When the country was under Soviet rule, all forms of gambling, including sports betting, were illegal. As an independent nation in its own right, Slovakia was able to introduce new gambling infrastructure, regulations, and laws to allow its citizens to gamble.

The introduction of the TIPOS-administered National Lottery of Slovakia was the first move toward allowing gambling in the country. The Slovakian government determined that the proceeds from this lottery would be channeled to the Ministry of Finance.

Besides Slovak citizens being able to play the lottery, their interest in other forms of gambling, such as sports betting grew, resulting in the establishment of betting shops in the country. These shops would offer fixed odds bets on dozens of sporting events, including horse racing and football.

One of the most significant changes in the history of gambling in Slovakia is the attainment of independence, which gave the country the freedom to allow gambling, which had been outlawed by Soviet rule.

However, the most significant change came as a result of the emergence of online gambling. The internet revolutionized the industry, completely turning it on its head. This necessitated the introduction of the Gambling Act of 2005, which governs both online and offline gambling in Slovakia.

Future of Betting in Slovakia

As mentioned above, attempts by the Slovakian authorities to restrict online gambling fell flat. This means Slovakian bettors have free access to international sites around the world, and this seems to go on for the foreseeable future.

With the gambling law in the country having been amended in 2019 to allow foreign operators from the European Union to obtain a Slovakian license, many of these operators are still weighing their options around the same. Hence, only time will tell whether or not the strict guidelines and heavy taxation will eventually keep them away.

Betting Acts in Slovakia include:

Gambling Act of 2005

Slovakia's Gambling Act of 2005 is the primary source of all the country's gambling laws, policies, and regulations. The law addresses all gambling aspects, from casino games to national lottery and sports betting. Unlike the previous legislation, whose primary focus was land-based gambling, this law also covers internet gambling. The main objectives of the 2005 Gambling Act are to:

• Define all the rights and duties of gamblers and operators so that every party knows what is required of them.
• Supervise the daily operations of gambling activities in Slovakia to ensure everything happens in compliance with the law.
• Oversee all gambling equipment in Slovakia

Act No. 30/2019

This Act was enacted in 2019. Pegged on the 2005 Gambling Act, this law sought to fine-tune gambling activities in Slovakia by introducing some important changes. According to this Act, Slovakia's Ministry of Finance relinquished its place to the Office for the Regulation of Gambling, a new body created to oversee all forms of local gambling in the country. Yes, the office still reports to the Ministry of Finance, but it is an independent body.

Previously, no online bookmaker was eligible for an online betting license if such an operator did not have physical offices in the country. However, Act No. 30/2019 scrapped this requirement, allowing foreign operators with no physical presence in Slovakia to obtain online betting licenses for an initial five-year duration.

International Operators

As of 2022, top international bookmakers are yet to obtain a gambling license from the Slovak authorities. That's perhaps because they can still offer services to Slovaks without any major problems, at least for now. Only time will tell how long this will continue. Of course, obtaining a Slovak license comes with tax implications, which is something many operators may not be happy with.