Slovakia’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (URHH) has ordered all gambling activities to stop on Saturday 26 April, aligning with the national day of mourning for the recently deceased Pope Francis.
The URHH issued an official notice to all licensed gambling operators, instructing them to cease operations across the country from 8am to 6pm on 26 April, the day of the late Pope’s funeral.
However, the authority exempted online gaming and numerical lottery activities from the order, meaning only land-based operators must close their doors.
Pope Francis, who began his career as a chemist and nightclub bouncer, rose to become head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy See in 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI resigned.
Many both within and outside of the religious community widely regarded Pope Francis as a popular and transformative figure.
Good to know: Controversial prediction market operator Kalshi currently identifies Italian Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin as the frontrunner to succeed the late pope.
Meanwhile, Slovakia’s gambling scene has remained active. In 2021, the government introduced a vaccination lottery initiative, while in 2024, major gambling conglomerates like Greentube and Pragmatic Play expanded their content offerings within the market.
