In the city of Constanta, Romania, workers have gathered in front of a local gambling company to demand wages, some of which have remained unpaid since May.
Speaking with local outlet Radio Constanta, employees shared that for the months of July and August, they were only given 1,000 lei ($216).
Following a conversation with management and a complaint from the Romanian labour inspection entity (ITM), the company admitted it was unknown when the workers would receive their wages, as it faced possible bankruptcy.
Romania's gambling industry has been steadily declining, as the number of slot machines specifically fell by 44% between 2023 and 2025.
This comes as a result of the country's tightening regulations, banning gambling venues in towns with under 15,000 residents in 2024.
Furthermore, since February 2026, Emergency Ordinance 7/2026 requires operators to get local council approval for slot machine licenses, allowing municipalities full authority to ban gambling venues.
Restrictions in the country, however, are not limited to the retail sector, as Adrian Câciu, a Social Democratic Party (PSD) MP and former Finance Minister, has suggested a new tax on online gambling transactions.
Concerns regarding online gambling have already been raised by the Association of Remote Gambling Organisers (AOJND).
Romania’s slot sector is shrinking in real terms despite higher nominal revenues per machine
