Local authorities across Romania are beginning to move against gambling halls, with several cities introducing measures to restrict or ban their operation. In some areas, local councils have already decided not to issue new operating licences, effectively forcing existing venues to close once permits expire.
In February, the Romanian Government amended the rules governing the organisation of gambling. Under the new framework, licensed operators need local authorisation from the city hall where they operate, giving local councils the final say on whether gambling venues are permitted in their area.
At a national level, more than 40 local authorities have already proposed measures to stop issuing licences. According to the National Office for Gambling, there are over 5,300 licensed gambling halls in Romania, most of them in the capital.
In Slatina, a proposal to remove gambling halls from the city has been approved. Around 100 venues in the city are expected to shut within the next year as licences are not renewed. Operators are now considering relocating their businesses to other towns.
Federation of Gambling Organisers of Romania (FEDBET) has warned that proposed local bans on gambling venues could push a significant portion of the market into the black market, arguing that prohibition would reduce regulatory oversight rather than eliminate gambling activity.
In recent regulatory developments in the country, two deputies from the Save Romania Union (USR) party proposed a draft law mandating electronic age verification for online sales of products and services that are prohibited to minors.
Last year, Romania introduced stricter B2B rules to curb unlicensed online gambling
