Casino games in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia can only be organised in casinos (all casino games) and in gaming halls (only games on slot machines) by a company seated in the Republic of Slovenia to which a concession has been awarded by the government.

The government decides upon awarding a gaming concession on the basis of a discretional right considering a wide range of different circumstances (e. g. impact of gaming on social, cultural and natural environment, development of gaming activity, extent of gaming in a certain area, gaming experiences of the applicant...).

According to the Gaming Act the Government of the Republic of Slovenia can award 15 concessions for casinos and 45 concessions for gaming halls at the most.

Law does not limit the number of concessions awarded to one company and in practice one company has more concessions, either concessions for organising games in casinos or concessions for organising games in gaming halls.

Gaming halls (arcades) in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia were introduced with the 2001 Amendment of the Gaming Act. A gaming hall should have a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 200 slot machines and should be located in an object of tourist infrastructure. (There is no restriction on the number of slots in casino.)

Regarding the casino’s ownership the Gaming Act defines possible shareholders of a concessionaire for a casino, which has to be a joint-stock company. That is to say that apart from the Republic of Slovenia, local communities and legal entities, owned or founded by the Republic of Slovenia, shareholders of a concessionaire can also be (up to 49 % of shares) companies, organised as a joint-stock company, which fulfil certain conditions set by the Gaming Act (e.g. these companies should make income predominantly from the activity of banking, insurance business, tourism, financial brokerage or activity of investment or pension funds). There is no prescribed ownership structure for a concessionaire for a gaming hall, which can be a joint-stock company or a company with limited responsibility.

An approval of the Minister of finance is needed for the purchase of the normal shares of a concessionaire. Such an approval is needed also for any change in the ownership of a concessionaire for a gaming hall. There has also been adopted a special regulation specifying the documentation and the procedure for approving such a purchase (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 127/03).

According to the Gaming Act each gaming device should be certified that conforms to technical and other standards. At the end of June 2002 the Minister of Finance has authorized an institution that issues gaming device test reports.

Specific jobs in casinos and gaming halls require a licence according to the 2001 Amendment of the Gaming Act. These jobs are: managers of casino, croupiers, games leaders, people performing internal control and chief and assistant cashiers. The licences are issued by a special commission, which is composed by three members (2 are appointed by the Minister of Finance, whilst the third one is a member of casino Association).

Currently there are no special restrictions on advertising and opening hours in the Gaming Act, but all the organisers need to respect general legislation on these items that is valid in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia.