Slovakia Studies New Rules to Protect Gen Z from Gambling Risks
Slovakia.- 25 August 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Slovakia’s gambling regulator has launched a new academic partnership aimed at understanding how younger generations interact with digital products incorporating mechanics similar to gambling.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority (URHH) has introduced its “Safer Digital Future” mandate to develop a comprehensive strategy protecting Generations Z and Alpha from gambling-related risks and emerging digital mechanics.
Partnership with Academia
The initiative has been established through a memorandum of cooperation between the URHH and the Department of Digital Games at the Faculty of Mass Media Communication of the University of St Cyril and Methodius in Trnava.
The university will provide expertise in areas including:
- Video game design.
- Player behaviour.
- Digital monetisation.
- Psychology.
- Game studies.
- Risks associated with digital products.
The partnership is intended to give the regulator an evidence base for future policy decisions.
Loot Boxes and Skin Betting Under Review
A central focus will be the growing convergence between video gaming and gambling.
The URHH has specifically identified mechanics including:
- Loot boxes.
- Skin betting.
- Randomised reward systems.
- Chance-based spending.
- Monetisation formats resembling gambling products.
The regulator believes that the traditional boundary between video gaming and gambling is becoming increasingly difficult to define.
Generations Z and Alpha in Focus
The project will place particular attention on younger users.
For the purposes of the initiative, the URHH describes Generation Z as people aged 14 to 29, while Generation Alpha includes those aged one to 13.
The regulator is concerned that repeated exposure to chance-based mechanics could normalise risk-taking behaviour from an early age.
Risk of Normalisation
The authority believes younger users increasingly experience gaming, social media and digital monetisation as part of a single connected environment.
Within that ecosystem, chance-based spending can become familiar before a user is legally old enough to participate in gambling.
Research will examine whether that exposure can later influence risk perception and attitudes towards wagering.
Statements
Libuša Baranová, Director General of the URHH, highlighted that technology is not simply a tool for Generations Z and Alpha but a natural environment in which identity, relationships and worldviews are shaped.
She argued that effective youth protection requires regulators to understand video game design and the psychological mechanisms influencing younger audiences.
Academic Expertise for Prevention
The Department of Digital Games operates Slovakia’s first comprehensive academic programme dedicated specifically to digital games and game studies.
Its expertise will be used to:
- Monitor emerging trends.
- Assess new products.
- Identify risks.
- Design prevention programmes.
- Develop youth education initiatives.
The partnership also creates a framework for ongoing knowledge exchange between researchers and regulators.
Digital Education as a Tool
Juliána Mináriková, Acting Dean of the faculty, said digital games are among the most influential environments shaping younger generations’ attitudes and behaviour.
She highlighted the importance of understanding gaming mechanics not only from a design and user-experience perspective but also through their potential risks.
Wider Gambling Reform Remains Under Debate
The initiative comes as Slovakia continues to debate a broader review of its 2019 Gambling Act.
Parliament is examining whether to undertake structural changes to the market after online casino gaming emerged as its largest vertical.
Sports and Tourism Minister Rudolf Huliak previously proposed a package of amendments introducing tighter controls and restrictions on gambling licences.
President Vetoed Previous Amendments
President Peter Pellegrini vetoed that package.
However, he indicated that he would support a more comprehensive reform programme focused on strengthening consumer protection.
The URHH’s research partnership is intended to provide evidence capable of informing future legislative decisions.
Industry Context
European regulators are paying increasing attention to the convergence between gaming and gambling.
Loot boxes, skins and random-reward systems pose particular challenges because they can replicate visual, psychological and economic elements of wagering without necessarily falling under the same regulatory frameworks.
Slovakia is now seeking to develop a stronger evidence base before introducing additional restrictions.
Next Steps or Impact
The URHH-university partnership will support new research and youth-focused education programmes.
The findings may influence future rules on video games, digital gambling products and protection of minors.
They could also contribute evidence to a broader future reform of Slovakia’s 2019 Gambling Act.
The initiative represents a shift towards preventative, evidence-led regulation designed to identify risks before emerging digital mechanics achieve mass adoption.
Editó: @fonta
