“I became unbearable, obsessed with odds, results and adrenaline,” said Mak, a 31-year old from Banja Luka in Bosnia, whose name has been changed to protect his identity.
“It started as curiosity, but ended with me gambling daily. I borrowed, and I lost serious money. It wrecked my life.”
Whether it’s betting on sports, playing roulette or online casino games, the gambling industry has become highly lucrative in both Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, while leaving behind a growing trail of personal ruin. As governments profit through taxes, individuals and families face emotional and financial trauma.
An anonymous survey conducted for this article by media outlets CAPITAL in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nova Ekonomija in Serbia, collected testimonies from nearly 500 people struggling with gambling addiction. It found that around two-thirds admitted to gambling daily. Forty per cent had borrowed money either to cover debts or to continue gambling.
Many respondents described gambling money meant for rent, food, or utility bills. What began as recreational entertainment quickly spiraled into uncontrollable addiction. Some gambled to fit in with friends. For others, the habit led to bankruptcy, criminal charges, and estrangement from loved ones.
“I became mentally unrecognisable,” said Mak. “I borrowed and lost money constantly. Everyone in my gambling circle lost serious amounts, but none of them admitted they had a problem.”
Others have confessed to stealing from their workplaces, gambling away the family budget, or facing criminal charges due to embezzlement.
In Serbia and Bosnia, gambling has become a cultural norm. Celebrities, including actors, athletes and musicians, are featured in advertisements for betting platforms.
Research carried out by BIRN estimates that Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the highest number of betting shops per capita in Europe, with around 3,200 outlets. Serbia follows closely with 2,900. In some residential areas, betting shops are on almost every corner.
Marko, a 36-year-old from Belgrade, said he began gambling socially 18 years ago, but realises that in the long term, he can’t come out on top. “There’s no such thing as walking away a winner. You just can’t see it when you’re in the moment,” he said.
“When you lose, you chase after recovery. When you win, you come back for more.”
This psychological loop creates a dangerous illusion of control, keeping players trapped.
“There’s always guilt. You know you shouldn’t go into a casino, but you do. You hide your losses from your family, borrow money, chase credit,” Marko said.
The normalisation of gambling
Reliable statistics on gambling addiction are scarce. A 2018 study by Serbia’s Institute for Public Health estimated between 51,000 and 93,000 people were problem gamblers, including up to 33,000 extreme cases.
Despite being seven years old, it is the latest official data on this issue. In Bosnia, the number of problem gamblers has been reported at 50,000 for over a decade, though actual figures may be higher.
The paradox of gambling in the region is that the very institutions meant to regulate it are among its largest beneficiaries. In Republika Srpska, the state is the biggest operator of gambling services through the public company Elektronska Video Lutrija (EVL), co-owned by the state lottery.
While private operators are restricted to specific premises, EVL operates thousands of slot machines in public spaces – cafés, petrol stations, bakeries, making gambling accessible even to minors.
In 2023, Republika Srpska earned over 79.5 million euros in gambling-related taxes and fees, a 20 percent increase from the previous year. In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, gambling revenue in 2024 exceeded €818 million.
Serbia also collects heavily from the industry. In 2024 alone, the state earned 117.7 million euros in fees related to games of chance. This includes 69.9 million euros from slot machines, 28.9 million euros from betting, and 54.6 million euros from online gambling.
Players are taxed too: winnings over 1,227 euros are subject to 20 per cent income tax, which means more money for the state.
“Gambling is the most dangerous addiction,” Milan Stefanovic, of gambling charity Protecta, based in the Serbian city of Nis, warns. “Unlike alcohol or drugs, gamblers can lose thousands in hours.”
Sociologist Ivan Sijakovic argues that Serbia has created a national dilemma: “The state has essentially manufactured a social disease. In Germany, gambling ads are restricted.”
Sanela Pekic, from the Sarajevo-based NGO Narko-NE, which works on the prevention of addiction, believes there’s an urgent need for stronger regulation on advertising.
“The reckless promotion of gambling paints it as fun and profitable. But the reality is different, ruined lives, families, and communities,” she said.
‘It’s hard to get out of the trap’
The problem often begins in adolescence, according to sociologist Sladjana Dragisic Labas. She said despite legal age restrictions, online gambling has opened new pathways for youth participation.
“Online gambling is more accessible, faster, more private. Unfortunately, this makes it especially risky for young people,” she said.
According to a former addict who now works within the gambling industry, underage betting persists despite stricter controls.
“Kids have always found ways to bet. Before, adults would place bets for them. Now, even with ID checks and tighter regulation, they still find loopholes,” he said.
One 48-year old woman from Belgrade, who preferred to remain anonymous, described gambling as a trap that can ensnare even the strongest personalities. “No matter how strong you are, it’s incredibly hard to get out,” she said. Though she managed to stop visiting casinos, she still places bets on tennis and football matches once or twice a week. “I don’t have a regular income now, so I can’t gamble as often,” she said.
Relapse is common. The woman admitted: “If I meet someone familiar, we sit, talk, and sometimes we gamble again.”
Loan sharks
Protecta has spent five years helping victims of illegal lending, mostly gamblers. Protecta’s research found nearly half the population knows someone affected by loan sharks, with many borrowing due to gambling debts. Some victims face threats and violence.
“Loan sharks don’t want their money back once, they want it constantly,” said Protecta’s Milan Stefanovic. Some borrowed 5,000 euros and repaid over 35,000 euros, according to Stefanovic. Loan sharks exploit informal networks and even use complicit lawyers and notaries to enforce abusive contracts.
Olivera Sbutega Filipovic, a psychiatrist and head of a clinic for chemical and behavioural addictions in Belgrade, says her hospital began treating gambling addiction in 2010.
In 2023, the clinic saw a 30 per cent rise in first-time patients compared to the year before. That year, 160 new cases were registered.
Treatment involves long-term psychotherapy, including family therapy, lasting at least two to three years.
One patient said his recovery was only possible thanks to family support. “They stood by me during therapy. I stopped gambling, but most of my friends from that time are still hooked,” he said.
In Bosnia’s Republika Srpska entity, 76 patients have been admitted to psychiatric care for gambling addiction since 2022, with 17 hospitalised. The youngest was just 18. The average age range of patients is between 23 and 55, with six women among them.
Marko, who has gambled for 18 years, says the compulsion to bet never ceases. Despite recognising his addiction, Marko still goes to betting shops almost every day.
“You know you’ll lose, but you still go,” he said. “You spend everything, hide from your family, borrow, and spiral deeper into debt.”