The Serbian Ministry of Finance is trying to block 70 online operators.

The trade association Jakta is supporting the Ministry in its efforts, which will start with blocking the IP addresses of these unlicensed operators.

Further regulations will need to be added to the recently published Gambling Law in Serbia to tackle the problem in future. "We estimate that in the future all relevant government institutions will unite in joint action in fighting against illegal gambling and preventing players in a coordinated approach," said Mirjana Acimovic, president of Jakta.

"We consider that our regulator is now able to cope with considerable challenges and we will focus on administrative co-operation, consumer protection and the development of a legal market.

"We feel and we can see very positive signs and inquiries from the significant number of operators who were not sure about our laws previously."

The Serbian Gaming Board director Vulovic said at the recent Jakta conference: "I can freely say that the objectives of the Serbian Gaming Board has set for itself are common goals for all.

"These include the increase of budget revenues, efficient and balanced inflows in the budget, conducting electronic surveillance of the implementation of the new law, reducing the number of illegal operators, controlled liberalisation of gambling over telecommunications media, creating favourable conditions for investment, especially foreign, creating favourable conditions for business organisers of games of chance and social responsibility of the organiser of games of chance."