Online poker is legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina but with significant regulatory restrictions. The country's complex political structure creates different legal frameworks across its entities, with both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska permitting online gambling, including poker, only for operators that also maintain land-based operations (1). This dual licensing requirement significantly limits the number of operators who can legally offer online poker services to Bosnian players.
Regulatory oversight is handled separately by each entity, with the Tax Administration under the Ministry of Finance supervising gambling activities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the Republican Gambling Authority under the Ministry of Finance regulates gambling in Republika Srpska (2). The minimum gambling age is 18 years across all entities, and all gaming equipment must be physically located within the territory of the respective licensing jurisdiction.
"Oversight and enforcement of gambling laws are carried out by separate regulatory bodies in each jurisdiction: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Tax Administration under the Ministry of Finance is responsible for regulating and supervising gambling activities."
Despite the legal framework allowing online poker, the practical regulatory environment remains challenging due to fragmented regulations, taxation differences, and market access restrictions between entities. International poker operators face significant barriers to entry due to the requirement to establish land-based operations first. However, enforcement against international sites serving Bosnian players has been limited, with a 2013 attempt by the Communications Regulation Agency to block foreign gambling sites being reversed due to public pressure regarding censorship concerns.
Source:
https://legalpilot.com/country/bosnia-and-herzegovina/
https://www.fmf.gov.ba/
Last updated: 27-09-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
