At the end of February, Romania radically changed its gambling regulations. An emergency government decree gave cities across the country the right to restrict or completely ban betting shops and slot machine halls. The new rules are the most significant tightening of Romanian gambling regulations in recent years.
Licensed land-based operators are now required to obtain not only a national licence but also local authorisation to open a venue, with the decision made by the city authorities. According to officials’ estimates, more than 200 municipalities may go down the route of completely banning land-based gambling. Nine have already expressed their intention to introduce a complete ban on land-based gambling.
Policy to curb growth
Over the past 20 years, Romania has seen rapid growth in the gambling industry. Tens of thousands of slot machines and betting outlets have appeared across the country, especially in the capital, Bucharest. Previously, gambling halls were approved centrally, without consultation with city authorities, which led to the emergence of numerous gambling establishments near schools and residential areas.
The legislative campaign to grant new powers to municipalities was led by Diana Stoica (pictured), a member of parliament from the Save Romania Union party. She intends to ensure that local authorities can independently determine whether gambling halls are permitted and where they may be located.
Nine cities already intend to introduce a ban
The Romanian gambling market is worth billions of euros. In 2025, operators brought the state almost €1 billion in tax revenue, despite tax fraud identified by the Court of Auditors. In this regard, fiscal benefits are one of the key arguments against the introduction of restrictions. However, supporters of the reform emphasise that the economic benefits are accompanied by serious social costs.
As of today, nine Romanian cities have announced their intention to introduce a complete ban on land-based gambling. The mayor of the city of Slatina, Mario De Mezzo, was the first to promise to get rid of all gambling halls after the expiry of existing licences. ‘The simplest solution is to completely eliminate these establishments from the city. They are toxic to society,’ De Mezzo believes.
A public health issue
As Stoica noted in an interview with The Guardian, gambling has become a public health issue. ”Gambling addiction has the highest suicide rate, yet the Romanian state has allowed this industry to grow over the past 20 years,” she notes. Stoica cites numerous complaints from the public about the damage caused by gambling addiction as an argument in favour of the new legislation.
The MP also noted that the previous legislation was more lenient towards gambling establishments than other types of businesses: “If you wanted to open a flower shop, you needed a permit from the city council. This was not required for gambling establishments.”
Will casinos in Bucharest be closed?
Bucharest Mayor Ciprian Cucu said he needed to consult with the city council before making a decision on the ban. As an option, he suggested that the municipality consider restricting gambling venues to certain areas, such as the Old Town.
The Romanian Parliament is also discussing additional restrictions: a ban on persons under the age of 21 visiting gambling halls, restrictions on online gambling advertising between 6:00 a.m. and midnight, a loss limit of 10% of declared income, and a ban on advertising targeted at children. Last year, the country’s media regulator banned celebrities and influencers from participating in gambling advertising.
De Mezzo explained the decision to impose a city-wide ban by citing his personal observations of the consequences of addiction in the local community. He strongly rejected the argument about lost revenue for the city: ”If saving even one life means postponing the paving of three streets until next year, it’s worth it.”
Overall, the new measures could significantly change the landscape of the Romanian gambling market. The transfer of powers to the local level paves the way for massive restrictions on land-based operators in municipalities, which will affect revenues and tax revenues. At the same time, it will strengthen the role of local communities in regulation and allow social risks to be taken into account when locating establishments, which is in line with European regulatory practice.
This article was first published in Russian on 9 March 2026.
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