The Best Betting Sites in Slovenia for 2023

1991 – Independence

Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. As a former communist state, sports betting opportunities before this were virtually non-existent, aside from state-run, pools-style football betting.

1995 – Casinos Open Up

The first land-based casinos sprang up shortly after independence, but it was not until 1995 that new legislation was introduced to manage how they operate.

2006 – Site Blocking

The government made a half-hearted attempt to block national internet service providers from allowing access to the Bwin and Bet-At-Home sites. But this was not upheld by law; the ISPs ignored it, and Slovenians continued to bet at international sites.

2007 – Official Sports Betting in Slovenia

As interest in sports betting grew, the Parliament introduced a law to put it under the control of state lottery operator, Sportna Loterija.

2014 – Online Licenses Introduced

Sportna Loterija went live with its online site in time for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and although it remains relatively successful, most sports bettors in Slovenia prefer to register and bet with international operators.

2016-17 – Sites Withdraw but Vow to Return

As it looked like the Parliament would legalise online gambling, some operators, like 888, withdrew from the market, anticipating they could return following regulation. But in 2018, the bill was rejected by the Parliament’s upper house by 18 votes to 12.

Present Day

With no further progress towards online gambling legislation, bettors in Slovenia remain able to bet with international operators. Technically, it’s not legal, but that’s only because no law was passed to expressly allows it.

Debit and credit cards

The most popular payment method at Slovenian betting sites is Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, which are accepted by all leading sports betting sites. Deposit instantly with no fees and withdraw to the same card when you want access to your funds. Bank cards are the most convenient payment method at sports betting sites in Slovenia.

Bank transfer

Direct transfers from your bank account are possible with many international betting sites. Navigate to your chosen betting site’s cashier section, and you will discover if transfers are possible directly from local banks live the Nova Ljubljanska Banka, SKB Banka or Nova Kreditna Banka.

Skrill

Skrill was originally called Moneybookers and was created for online gambling accounts. The e-wallet is increasingly popular in Slovenia, and it makes monitoring your online betting activities simple because you keep all your betting transactions in one place.

NETELLER

NETELLER is another popular payment method amongst Slovenian bettors, as it allows you to keep your betting transactions separate from your bank account. Deposit into NETELLER and then upload funds from your wallet to your chosen betting site by entering an email address. If Skrill and NETELLER are not your favourite e-wallet, then most betting sites will also accept PayPal.

Football

Football is by far the most popular sport in Slovenia. The top-flight Slovenian PrvaLiga (known as 1. SNL) is contested by 10 teams, with Maribor and Olimpija enjoying the most success since the league launched after independence in 1991.

Slovenia’s national football team has qualified for two World Cups (2002 and 2010), but its people love betting on football whether or not their team is playing. They follow the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga and the German Bundesliga closely. And major tournaments like the Champions League, World Cup and the European Championships are followed keenly whether the locals can bet on Slovenia or not.

Skiing

Winter sports are incredibly popular in Slovenia, where the country is blessed with a beautiful, mountainous landscape. Alpine skiing, ski jumping and cross-country skiing are particular favourites, leading to a genuine interest in betting on the big winter sports events.

Famous skiers include Ales Gorza, who represented the country at the 2006 Winter Olympics, while Ana Drev represented Slovenia in the World Cup, specialising in the giant slalom. She made her World Cup debut at just 16 years of age. Meanwhile, the Slovenia women’s team won the Ski Jumping World Cup in 2021.

Ice Hockey

Eight teams, including HK Olimpija, contest the Slovenian Hockey League. A championship phase follows the regular season to determine the national champion. The campaign provides exciting betting opportunities.

The men’s international team is currently ranked 18th globally, recording a highest finish of 13th at the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2002 (in Sweden) and 2005 (in Austria). Slovenians also enjoy betting on ice hockey action across the globe, including the NHL in the United States and Canada.

Basketball

The Premier A Slovenian Basketball League (known as 1. SKL) is closely fought by ten teams. Some, like Krka, were formed as long ago as 1948 under the former Yugoslav flag. Olympija has won the most 1. SKL titles to date (17).

The national team has performed consistently well, qualifying for EuroBasket and reaching the knockout stages each year since 2005. Its crowning glory came in 2017 when the country became European champions. Online betting in Slovenia often reflects this love of playing and watching basketball. Locals bet on domestic games and on the NBA.