Adrian Câciu, a Social Democratic Party (PSD) MP and former Finance Minister, has suggested a new tax on online gambling transactions. PSD is currently the largest political party in Romania.
More specifically, he proposes that an online betting and gambling transaction tax be withheld directly by banks.
Câciu noted: “When you pay for a bet online, you pay a commission to the bank. I would impose a transaction tax equivalent to that bank commission.”
According to him, a lot of political attention is focused on land-based gambling, which has recently shrunk under strict regulations. Câciu noted that due to this development, gambling activity is simply starting to shift online.
Indeed, the Romanian land-based gaming sector, particularly the slot sector, has been declining rapidly.
According to the Romanian Association of Slot Machine Operators (Romslot), the number of slot machines operating in Romania fell by 44% between 2023 and 2025, declining from 80,000 units to approximately 45,000.
During the same period, nominal market turnover reportedly dropped by 40%, from €2bn ($2.3bn) to €1.2bn. Once adjusted for inflation and monetary expansion, the association estimates that the sector’s real decline exceeds 60%.
Tighter regulations that have driven the decline include a 2024 ban on gambling venues in towns and villages under 15,000 residents. Also, since February 25, 2026, Emergency Ordinance 7/2026 requires local council approval for slot-machine licenses, allowing municipalities to effectively ban gambling venues, which many of them have done.
Association of Remote Gambling Organisers (AOJND) officials previously raised concerns that restrictions currently affecting the retail sector could soon extend to online gambling.
Judging by the political sentiment expressed by Câciu, this might just hold true, although it is too early to judge since this is the opinion of just one MP.
Each Romanian local council can set an annual local tax and determine whether slot machines are allowed
