Skopje, 14 March 2024 (MIA) - The Parliament said on Thursday that the Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games, which was in third reading as its 145th session resumed yesterday, did not receive the required majority of 61 votes and the procedure for the bill is concluded. 

"Taking into account the Constitutional Court's decision dated May 14, 2020, according to which at least 61 votes "in favor" are required for the law to be adopted, when deciding on the Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games, at the 145th session, the bill was backed with 51 votes "in favor", which means that the conditions for the law to be adopted have not been met and thus the procedure regarding that law is concluded," the Parliament Speaker's Office said in a press release. 

The press release adds that "the statement by the Parliament Speaker when deciding on the Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games referred to the majority required to adopt this law in a regular procedure". 

The games of chance bill was passed by the Parliament but President Stevo Pendarovski refused to sign it into law citing abuse of the EU flag, and so the bill was back on the Parliament's agenda in third reading.