Are Slovakian Gambling Bans Due To Economic Success?

Slovakia is recognised as being a highly advanced high-income country post its reclamation of democracy. With annual economic growth rates of approximately 4%, it is one of Europe’s strongest nations in terms of GDP.

Perhaps this level of success and economic self-reliance is the reason that key Slovakian cities are reticent to greenlight gambling.

 Bratislava Stands Firm

The leaders of Slovakia’s capital Bratislava voted to uphold the current ban on all forms of gambling in the city on December 17th. The anti-gambling petition won by a landslide with 39 of the city’s 40 parliament members voting in favour of the ban, and the final member choosing to abstain.

While the ban of gambling may be touted as a way to safeguard residents both from gambling-related harms and protect their finances the reality is that there the local gambling market and those employed by it will suffer loss.

 Delayed Business Closure

In an interesting turn of events, the call to ban gambling in Bratislava did not begin with a local politician pushing an agenda, rather it came about thanks to a petition by residents. More than 70,000 locals signed a petition and delivered to the city council calling for a ban on gambling in the city.

While the petition did result in gambling being banned, and further successful votes have maintained the decision, gambling companies in Bratislava have until 2024 to get their affairs in order.

This stay of execution is due to the fact that while the vote can be enforced at a local level it is not in line with Slovakian business law. This disconnect allows for gambling businesses with licenses to continue to operate but without any chance of license renewal or for any new business to receive a license.

 The Czech Republic Agrees

Interestingly, the Czech city of Prague has followed a similar process. The Prague City Council voted earlier this year to ban all forms of slot machines and video lottery-type games in the capital, a ban which comes into effect in 2024.

Councillor Hana Kordová Marvanová said:

“Statistics show that limiting the availability of gambling has a significant positive impact in the area of negative social phenomena, such as pathological gambling or non-payment.”

The move to a gambling machine free city has caught the imagination of several cities in the Czech Republic with Brno, Ostrava, Břeclav, Kyjov, Klatovy and České Budějovice all receiving the go-ahead to implement similar bans.

Protectionism Versus Freedom

As many global markets look to gambling, both land-based and online, as a means of generating revenue it will be interesting to see if there is a counter-culture movement whereby “people over profit” becomes the order of the day.

Yet, as heart-warming as that sentiment sounds there will always the question of where a government decision of this nature begins to conflict with the ideals of personal freedom and free-market trade.