Gambling Regulation in CEE: CMS launches 2026 Expert Guide to Gambling Laws

The gambling sector in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) remains one of the most dynamic and closely regulated industries in the region. 

Legislative reform has intensified regulatory scrutiny, digitalisation of gambling products and increased focus on responsible gambling, and AML compliance continues to reshape the market.
Against this background, CMS has launched the 2026 edition of the CMS Expert Guide to Gambling Laws in CEE, providing an up-to-date and practical overview of the legal and regulatory landscape across key CEE jurisdictions.

A shifting regulatory environment: liberalisation, enforcement and digital growth

Regulatory approaches across CEE continue to diverge. In certain jurisdictions, gradual liberalisation and clearer secondary legislation are creating more predictable frameworks for licensed operators, particularly in the online segment. In others, lawmakers are introducing stricter licensing conditions, enhanced supervisory powers for regulators, tighter advertising restrictions and increased sanctions for non-compliance.

At the same time, authorities across the region are strengthening enforcement against unlicensed operators, expanding blocking measures, and increasing cooperation between gambling regulators, tax authorities and AML bodies.

For operators and investors, these developments mean that market entry strategies, corporate structuring, product design and marketing models must be assessed against rapidly evolving local requirements. A detailed understanding of both regulatory frameworks and supervisory practices is essential.

CMS’s gambling law specialists across CEE advise clients throughout the entire lifecycle of gambling operations – from initial market assessments and licence applications to compliance audits, restructurings and regulatory investigations.

Key topics covered in the 2026 Guide

The 2026 edition of the CMS Expert Guide provides a structured overview of the most relevant legal and practical issues affecting gambling businesses in CEE, including:

• Regulatory frameworks – analysis of primary legislation, secondary regulations and the roles of supervisory authorities governing land-based and online gambling.
• Market access and licensing – conditions for obtaining and maintaining licences, eligibility requirements, technical certifications and ongoing reporting obligations.
• Compliance, AML and data protection – implementation of anti-money laundering controls, customer due diligence, responsible gambling obligations and GDPR compliance in a sector subject to enhanced scrutiny.
• Structuring and corporate governance – considerations for establishing local entities, management requirements and restrictions on ownership.
• Currency control and cross-border issues – payment processing, financial flows, foreign investment restrictions and cross-border provision of services.
• Marketing and advertising – increasingly detailed rules on bonus offers, influencer marketing, sponsorship and consumer protection.
• Taxation – gambling-specific taxes, turnover-based levies, point-of-consumption models and related reporting obligations.

Each country chapter combines legal analysis with practical insights from CMS practitioners on how the rules operate in practice.

Jurisdictions covered

The 2026 CEE Guide to Gambling Laws covers Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Turkiye, Ukraine.

Together, these jurisdictions reflect a broad spectrum of regulatory models – from state-controlled or highly restricted systems to more open, licence-based frameworks – offering valuable comparative insights for operators active across multiple markets.

Access the 2026 CMS Expert Guide to Gambling Laws in CEE here:

https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-gambling-laws-in-cee 

If you would like to discuss any aspect of gambling regulation in CEE, contact your usual CMS contact or one of our gaming law experts.

Disclaimer

This publication provides general information on legal issues and developments and does not constitute legal advice. It is not intended to address the specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Specific legal advice should be sought before taking or refraining from taking any action based on its content.