Romania’s government has introduced new measures to tighten control over land-based gambling, granting local authorities the power to restrict or fully ban betting shops in their jurisdictions.
Under an emergency decree, mayors and local councils can veto new licenses and limit the presence of what officials have described as “toxic” gambling venues, with at least nine cities already moving to pursue full bans.
Gambling operators will now face an additional licensing hurdle under the emergency decree, which makes it mandatory to receive municipal authorisation before opening betting shops or slot machine halls.
Under the revised rules, licensed operators must obtain both a national permit and approval from local authorities before establishing a gambling venue. The measure grants mayors and municipal councils the authority to approve or reject venues within their jurisdictions. Officials estimate that more than 200 localities could pursue full prohibitions.
Until this change, gambling halls received authorisation at the national level without approval from city governments. Local communities had limited authority even when betting shops and slot machine venues appeared near schools and residential neighbourhoods.
“From now on, local authorities can clearly say ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” said Diana Stoica, an MP for the Save Romania Union party, who led the legislative campaign. “If they say yes, they can decide exactly where these venues can operate and under what conditions.”
Cities consider restrictions and bans
Several municipalities have begun reviewing the new authority. At least nine cities have indicated plans to seek full bans on gambling venues.
One of them is Slatina in southern Romania, where Mayor Mario De Mezzo said the city intends to remove gambling halls once existing licenses expire.
“The simplest solution was to eliminate these businesses entirely from the city. They are toxic for society,” De Mezzo said.
Ciprian Cucu, mayor of Bucharest, said he will consult the city council before deciding whether the capital should impose restrictions. One option under discussion involves limiting gambling venues to certain districts, including the Old Town, though he described the idea as one possibility.
Industry scale and fiscal contribution
Romania’s gambling sector represents a multibillion-euro market. The industry generated close to €1 billion in state tax revenue in 2025, though official audits have identified several million euros in revenue that were not collected.
For years, the fiscal contribution from gambling served as a central argument against restrictions despite public pressure from communities and advocacy groups.
Romania has experienced a rapid increase in gambling locations, with tens of thousands of slot machines and betting outlets operating across the country, particularly in Bucharest.
Public complaints and community concerns
Supporters of the new restrictions cited concerns raised by residents and civil society organisations about the location of gambling venues in residential districts.
“People write to us constantly; entire families are affected by addiction. We turned those messages into legislation,” Stoica said.
“This is a public health problem,” Stoica told the Guardian. “Gambling addiction has the highest suicide rate of any addiction and the Romanian state has allowed this industry to explode over the past 20 years.”
Additional national measures under discussion
Romania’s parliament is reviewing additional restrictions on gambling activity. Proposals include banning individuals under 21 from entering gambling halls, limiting online gambling advertisements between 6 a.m. and midnight, capping losses to 10% of declared income, and restricting advertisements aimed at children.
Romania’s media regulator last year prohibited celebrities and influencers from appearing in gambling advertisements.
De Mezzo said his decision to pursue a citywide ban followed cases of gambling addiction in his community.
“We have seen the devastating effects these businesses have on people’s lives,” he said. “Families break apart and children go to bed hungry because parents lose their salaries at slot machines.”
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/03/10/117953-romania-to-require-municipal-approval-for-gambling-venues-under-new-emergency-decree
