The tax, a part of the fiscal consolidation measures listed in the Stability Programme, is expected to bring EUR 7.3m in revenues this year and an additional EUR 17m in 2014. It is expected to be introduced some time in the second half of the year.

Lottery tickets which are periodically issued by associations or non-profit humanitarian organisations based in Slovenia for financing of their principal activities will be exempt.

The tax is to be paid by lottery operator Loterija Slovenije and sports lottery Športna loterija. They have opposed the tax saying it will represent a large burden on their financial operations.

Both operators have said that they will be forced to transfer the tax burden on customers, who they believe will consequently resort to playing lottery abroad.

Humanitarian and sport organisations and organisations for the disabled, which are partially financed from lottery revenue, have also pointed to the negative consequences of the tax on their operation.

The tax was opposed by the opposition People's Party (SLS), Democrats (SDS) and New Slovenia (NSi) for similar reasons.

The act was passed in a 41-36 vote, with some of the deputies of the coalition Citizens' List (DL) voting against the new tax.

DL deputies wanted to exempt sport betting, but this amendment was rejected by the coalition, which caused the vote among the seven DL deputies to split.

Other coalition deputies said they will closely monitor the effects of the tax and argued that the fear of negative consequences is somewhat overblown.