Best Montenegro Betting Sites

Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Montenegro formed a federation with Serbia until June 3rd, 2006, when it peacefully declared its independence. It is the home country of numerous top athletes like Dejan Savicevic and Predrag Mijatovic, two iconic football players, and NBA player Nikola Vucevic. The small Balkan country was also crowned water polo European champion in 2008 and world champion in 2009. Sports betting comes naturally as one of Montenegrins’ most loved habits. The first law on games of chance was passed in 2004 and came into effect in 2006.

Since then, many betting shops and a few casinos emerged across the country. The Gambling Authority, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance, regulates gambling and issues licenses to betting sites in Montenegro. When online betting was first addressed in 2011, more than 15 local betting companies have obtained a license. However, with no restrictions on accessing offshore bookmakers, local punters also opt for reputable operators like Bet365 and Pinnacle.

Best Montenegro Bookmakers

With most bookmakers available in Montenegro, we’ve checked them all and give you the ones with the highest odds and multiple betting options on a wide range of events, providing the Serbian language too.

Gambling in Montenegro - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  The legal minimum gambling age in Montenegro is 18
• 2
  Almost 15% of adult citizens participate in online betting every month
• 3
  Football & basketball account for over 60% of all bets placed by local punters
• 4
  2011 was the year when online gambling got regulated
• 5
  Licensed bookmakers must keep records of all payments above €1,000

General info

⏩Population: 623.000

⏩Active players: 110.000

⏩Currency: Euro

⏩Regulated gambling products: Sports betting, casino, lottery

⏩Operator types: Licensed online and land-based bookmakers & casinos, international bookies operating without a license

⏩Designated authority: Gambling Authority (Uprava za igre na sreću)

⏩Status: Regulated

Montenegro Online Betting: The Law Framework

While the law on games of chance was voted in 2004, it came into effect only after the federation with Serbia was dissolved in 2006. The first law divided gambling into special games of chance (mainly slots and other casino games) and lottery games of chance (sports betting, lottery and bingo) and it still remains alike.

The first time online betting was set under legal framework was in 2011, with a series of amendments. According to these, betting companies in Montenegro that want to get a license need to apply to the Gambling Authority and pay a fee of €25,000.

Each license is valid for 3 years, and if a company wants an online one too, it just applies for an upgrade to its existing land-based one. At the same time, an applying company must possess a share capital of at least €75,000 and provide a bank guarantee of €30,000.

In terms of taxation, Montenegro applies a relatively low 10% tax on operators’ gross gaming revenue and a €500 monthly fee. However, the small costs are balanced with close online supervision from the authorities. Operators must grant access for inspection purposes and keep records of any payments over €1,000.

Local market leaders Meridianbet.me and Maxbet.me, enjoy a massive share among the 15+ licensed bookmakers. More than half of them have also received an online betting license, which is actually just an upgrade to the land-based one.

Essential Information for Bettors

The most crucial piece of information for bettors in Montenegro is that there is no tax on winnings. There used to be a relevant tax but was put aside with appropriate law amendments in 2019.

You should also keep in mind that betting on politics is not allowed in the country, at least when you place your bets on licensed bookmakers. Lastly, remember that you shall not face restrictions when enjoying the services of offshore operators. Thus, you are practically free to choose any bookie that geographically accepts Montenegrins.

Which .com Bookmakers Accept Players from Montenegro?

Montenegrin players have plenty of options when it comes to online betting, so here are the most popular ones.

22Bet Montenegro

22Bet offers 1000+ events daily on 48+ sports and comes with a 95% payout on football and tennis. Plus, it also offers the Serbian language and a wide array of deposit methods, including Skrill and Neteller.

1xBet Montenegro

With a 97% payout for football and basketball, 1xBet does stand out. Other popular sports like handball or tennis also enjoy high payout at around 95%. It also comes fully localized with a Serbian interface.

Bet365 Montenegro

Bet365 comes with a solid 95%+ overall payout. It welcomes bettors with 30+ sports to bet on and with a great range of betting markets. Moreover, it provides a wide variety of payments that include Skrill, Neteller and Paysafecard.

How to Deposit at Online Bookies

With relaxed betting laws in place, punters are free to choose the payment method that suits them best. Bookmakers providing E-wallets like Skrill and Neteller, along with Paysafecard betting sites, are the most popular ones in the Montenegro online gambling landscape. Apart from the fast processing times they deliver, e-wallets also ensure anonymity, so they are recommended.

Especially if you choose to bet online with a local licensed bookmaker, any winnings above €1,000 would be reported. No worries about currency conversion fees either since the Montenegrin official currency is the Euro, offered by the vast majority of online sportsbooks.

The Future of Online Betting in Montenegro

Players are allowed to bet on any bookmaker they want, facing no restrictions. At the same time, the complicated licensing process and the strict state measures regarding the way companies operate and get taxed; complicate the landscape from operators’ point of view.

Online gambling is still underregulated and apart from the local Montenegro betting companies, no offshore bookies have opted for a license. The future is uncertain since the online betting environment is still shaping up.

Gambling Regulations in Nearby Countries

⏩ Kosovo: has declared a ban on gambling and closed hundreds of betting shops throughout the country after some incidents happened in the country. The ongoing ban, however, does not affect the Kosovo betting sites that are operating in a grey market.

⏩ Albania: prohibited all forms of gambling in an attempt to limit match-fixing. You can find land-based casinos inside touristic resorts only. As for betting sites in Albania, it is the most accessible alternative that is easily available for locals. 

⏩ Bosnia and Herzegovina: has regulations that legalise gambling in one region only. This gave birth to more than 2,500 bet shops on land. The Bosnia and Herzegovina betting sites attract most of the local bettors with the country's relaxed laws towards online gambling.