Slovakia’s online gambling liberalization is back on schedule after legislators overrode President Andrej Kiska pre-Christmas veto.

On Tuesday, the Slovak National Council voted to override the December 21 decision by President Kiska (pictured) to veto the country’s new Gambling Act, which legislators had originally approved on December 4.

The legislation deals with a wide variety of gambling issues, but the biggest change is ending the online gambling monopoly of the state-owned national lottery operator Tipos. For the first time, Slovakia will allow private domestic firms as well as online operators based in other European Union markets to apply for licenses.

Tipos will retain its monopoly over online lotteries, bingo and raffles while online casino and sports betting products will now be open to competition. Individual online product licenses will cost operators €3m apiece or €5m for a dual-product permit.