Western Balkans Form Unified Balkan Gaming Federation to Coordinate Regional Policy and Combat Illegal Operators

Seven national associations form the Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF) to coordinate gaming policy and enforcement across the Western Balkans.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 1, 2026, 10:51 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from iGB

A Strategic Alliance for Regional Synchronization

In a landmark move for the Eastern European gaming landscape, seven national associations from the Western Balkans have officially inaugurated the Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF). The formation was finalized this week in Belgrade through a Memorandum of Cooperation hosted by the Association of Gaming Operators of Serbia (AGOS) and co-driven by Bulgaria’s Association of Online Gaming and Gambling Operators (AOGGOB). This collective body unites operators, technology providers, and suppliers from Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. The federation is designed to act as a central platform for policy coordination without infringing upon the autonomy of existing national regulatory bodies.

Combating Illegal Gambling and Unfair Competition

One of the primary mandates of the BGF is to leverage the pooled expertise of its member nations to crack down on the unlicensed gambling market. By facilitating the exchange of regulatory best practices and synchronizing compliance efforts, the federation seeks to create a more hostile environment for illegal operators. Furthermore, the body will focus on combating unfair competition within the legal market, ensuring that all regional participants adhere to a standardized set of commercial ethics. This collaborative approach is expected to provide a significant boost to enforcement efforts across a region that has historically faced varying levels of regulatory maturity.

Navigating a Varied Regulatory Landscape

The BGF enters a region characterized by a diverse spectrum of gaming laws. Serbia and Romania currently boast substantial online sectors that have recently attracted significant international investment, including Superbet’s acquisition of Maxbet. Conversely, Croatia and Bulgaria maintain a balance between expanding online operations and well-established land-based casino industries. The federation also aims to help Bosnia and Herzegovina navigate its fragmented regulatory environment. This diversity allows the BGF to act as a knowledge hub, where nations with advanced self-exclusion schemes—such as Bulgaria’s mandatory one-year program—can share data and implementation strategies with neighbors currently undergoing reform.