Death threats received by the representatives of the Association of Legal Gambling Providers Montenegro Bet

It is with deep concern that The European Organization for Gaming Law (EOGL) informs the public that the representatives of the Association of Legal Gambling Providers in Montenegro have been subjected to death threats by unidentified persons during last week.

“We strongly condemn the threats addressed to the members of Montenegro Bet. On this occasion, we urge the country’s investigating and judicial authorities to promptly bring to justice the perpetrators and instigators of this criminal act.“

EOGL fully supports the efforts made by Montenegro Bet to implement the decision made by the Constitutional Court of Montenegro, which ordered the removal of illegal betting terminals from all local catering facilities. A consistent implementation of the Court’s decision would mean that the decisive step will be made towards an effective tackling of underage gambling and the flourishing of black market betting in Montenegro, which are the basic principles that the EOGL advocates for.

The threats of violence we have witnessed last week are not only infringing the principle of corporate social responsibility, but most of all, both the values of the rule of law and the freedom of movement and expression. The European Union, the organization that Montenegro is currently involved with in the accession negotiation process, attaches great importance to the compliance with these principles.

In that respect, EOGL will be informing the European Commission and all the Industry’s relevant stakeholders at the EU level on the results of both the investigation concerning this criminal act and the further progress made in tackling of underage gambling and black market gambling in Montenegro.