The Romanian Government has amended the rules governing the organisation and operation of gambling through the Emergency Ordinance on Public Administration, introducing a significant shift in oversight from the central to the local level.
Under the new framework, licensed operators of gambling halls will be required to secure, in addition to their national license, an operating authorisation issued by the city hall of the locality where they conduct their activities.
The measure forms part of a broader decentralisation package adopted by the Executive and grants local authorities the power to determine whether gambling activities may operate within their administrative-territorial boundaries.
In practical terms, local councils will now decide by resolution whether to permit such operations in their communities, effectively giving municipalities the final say on market access at the local level.
Alongside the new authorisation requirement, an annual local tax will be introduced and set individually by each local council. Gambling venues will need to comply with local policies to obtain authorisation, while operators must notify local authorities before commencing operations.
For operators that, on the date the ordinance enters into force, already hold a valid authorisation to operate games of chance issued by ONJN, the requirement to obtain local authorisation will apply only after the current authorisation period expires.
The newly introduced annual local tax will likewise become payable following the expiration of the existing ONJN authorisation term.
The changes represent a reconfiguration of regulatory control in Romania’s gambling sector, while introducing an additional layer of compliance for operators.
Last year, Romania introduced stricter B2B rules to curb unlicensed online gambling
