Parliament has passed the new law on games of chance with 59 votes "for" and 9 "against", and with it casinos and betting shops get something that has long been demanded - a boundary. Gambling venues must be at least 500 metres from primary and secondary schools, to reduce the exposure of the youngest.

The law brings other measures that tighten the screws on the industry too. Advertising on venue windows is banned, as is any ad that presents gambling as a path to success, wealth or status - which means an end to the famous faces selling the illusion that winning is easy. Every machine must get a GPS device in a permanent link with the Public Revenue Office, and higher bank guarantees and new per-location fees have been introduced.

Not everyone is thrilled. The betting shops' association warns that the law could close thousands of legal venues, wipe out 10,000 jobs and push 35,000 citizens into financial trouble, while driving players toward illegal operators. It's the argument the industry pulls out every time the screws tighten - whether it's a real fear or pressure on the legislator, time will tell.

The Balkans knows this game well. A betting shop on every corner, flashing ads at every break, and a whole generation conditioned to think a win is just one face away. A 500-metre boundary from a school won't solve the problem on its own - but it is an admission that the problem exists. The question that remains is the one that applies to every law of ours: will the distance be measured on the ground, or only on paper?