Slovakia has appointed Libuša Baranová as the new director general of the Office for the Regulation of Gambling (ÚRHH), marking the second leadership change at the authority in less than a year. She succeeds Jana Mravíková, who had taken over earlier in 2025 following the departure of long-serving director general Martin Bohoš.
Leadership in Transition
Bohoš, who led the regulator since 2019, stepped down earlier this year while calling for a comprehensive review of Slovakia’s Gambling Act, warning that the law was lagging behind the rapid growth of online casinos and lacked sufficient consumer protections.
The latest reshuffle underscores the political pressure surrounding gambling regulation. Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický, who approved Baranová’s appointment, is facing mounting calls to modernize the country’s gambling framework.
Mounting Challenges
The appointment comes amid parliamentary debate over whether the current Gambling Act adequately addresses digital wagering and cross-border market pressures. Slovakia has struggled to contain unlicensed operators, with a recent survey showing that one in four Slovaks gambled on illegal sites, raising concerns about the true scale of the black market.
Baranová’s Priorities
Baranová takes charge at a pivotal moment, with expectations that she will:
- Improve internal transparency within the regulator
- Modernize licensing processes
- Strengthen tax alignment between operators and the state
The rise of online platforms, new payment technologies, and affiliate marketing has reshaped the gambling landscape, but legislation has not kept pace, creating uncertainty for both regulators and licensed operators.
Market Snapshot
According to the ÚRHH’s 2024 annual report:
- Total gambling turnover: €24.2 billion ($25.6 billion), up 14% year-on-year
- Online gambling: €12.8 billion ($13.6 billion)
- Land-based gambling: €8.92 billion ($9.4 billion)
- Gaming halls: €6.14 billion ($6.5 billion)
- Casinos: €2.78 billion ($2.9 billion)
Outlook
With Baranová at the helm, the focus will be on whether the ÚRHH can deliver the stability and credibility the market demands. The year ahead will test Slovakia’s ability to address structural weaknesses in its regulatory system rather than applying short-term fixes. Success could position the country as a more credible regulatory force within Europe’s evolving gambling landscape.
