Slovakia Overhauls Gambling Regulator Leadership
Slovakia has made another leadership change at its national gambling regulator, the ÚRHH, as the Ministry of Finance appointed Libuša Baranová as the new Director General. The move marks the second change in 2025 and comes amid growing political pressure to strengthen gambling oversight and transparency.
New Leadership at ÚRHH
The Ministry of Finance announced that Libuša Baranová officially took over as Director General of the Gambling Regulation Authority (ÚRHH) on 1 October 2025. She replaces Jana Mravíková, who had been in the role since April and will now serve as Director of the Department of Economics and Operations.
This reshuffle follows the departure of Martin Bohoš earlier in the year, who had led the authority since 2019. Upon leaving, Bohoš called for a comprehensive review of Slovakia’s Gambling Act, warning that “the framework was failing to keep pace with the rapid growth of online casinos and insufficient consumer safeguards.” The latest appointment reflects a broader effort by the government to stabilise regulatory leadership and improve accountability within the sector.
Calls for Reform and Stronger Oversight
Political and regulatory scrutiny over Slovakia’s gambling framework has intensified in recent months. Opposition lawmakers from the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) have demanded a full tax audit of the industry, pointing to rising gambling volumes despite stagnant revenues of around €340 million. Critics accuse the Ministry of Finance of weak enforcement and a lack of transparency in tax collection.
Meanwhile, Sports and Tourism Minister Rudolf Huliak has urged tougher social responsibility measures and stricter controls over unlicensed operators, arguing that the country must “regulate, not promote gambling.” As Baranová assumes her new role, her key challenge will be to rebuild public trust, close existing regulatory gaps, and modernise oversight mechanisms to better reflect Slovakia’s evolving gambling market.