Balkan Gaming Federation elects new leadership team
On 30 September, Dragan Skrbic, president of the Serbian gambling association AGOS, was elected as the first president of the Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF) at a conference in Bucharest.
Filip Jelavić, secretary general of Croatia’s HUPIS, and Sorin Georgescu, president of Romania’s ROMSLOT and vice president of FEDBET, will serve as the federation’s vice presidents.
The new leadership team will be charged with spearheading BGF’s first campaigns in support of the legal gambling industry in the Balkans. This includes closer cooperation with the land-based trade association EUROMAT, which attended the two-day conference and leadership election in Romania.
Since it was founded in Serbia back in March, the BGF has sought to deepen its links with EUROMAT. In a press release following the meeting, the federation said the goal was to establish itself as a regional cluster within the EU-wide trade association.
“This will allow the federation to consolidate the challenges, expertise and positions of Balkan markets and connect them more directly with the European policy debate, while giving EUROMAT a more structured link to a region that includes both EU member states and western Balkan markets,” it explained.
Collective voice for the Balkans
The Balkan Gaming Federation brings together seven trade associations across the western Balkans, including Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia.
With the legal gambling industry under mounting pressure in the region, BGF aims to give operators and suppliers a collective platform. So far, it has chosen Croatia as its seat and has issued joint positions on regulatory developments in Romania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
According to HUPIS’ Secretary General Filip Jelavić, who will serve as a vice president, the challenge posed by the black market is “evolving rapidly” in the region. Jelavić believes this is partly fuelled by over-zealous regulation.
“The relationship between regulation and illegal gambling cannot be ignored,” he told iGB in July. “Experience across Europe increasingly shows that overregulation, particularly when not supported by evidence or impact assessments, can unintentionally drive consumers towards the black market.”
Over the past few years, numerous jurisdictions in the Western Balkans have been cracking down on the industry. Bulgaria has repeatedly tightened its advertising restrictions – with a potential ban on affiliates on the way.
Meanwhile, Romania has put gambling authorisations in the hands of local authorities, leaving land-based operators in limbo.
First public appearance
Following the election, BGF’s new leadership will outline its priorities for 2027 at the New Horizons Gaming Industry Gala Dinner in Sofia on 24 November. The event will mark the leadership team’s first public appearance alongside representatives of the federation’s member associations.
The following day, BGF will host a roundtable bringing together leading companies and industry experts from across the Balkans. Intended to become an annual event, the discussions will focus on shared business interests, regulatory challenges, joint initiatives and protecting the legal gaming sector.
BGF is also developing a larger regional B2B forum, including an exhibition, in order to strengthen industry ties across the Balkans. The event is expected to rotate between Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia.
Speaking to iGB in July, Jelavić said he hoped the federation could become a “credible regional voice” and “relevant stakeholder” in discussions with government, regulators and European institutions.
“If, after the first year, the federation is recognised as a serious regional partner, actively engaged in the fight against illegal gambling and capable of bringing together operators, suppliers and industry stakeholders around common goals, that would be a very successful start,” he said.