Law of "slot machines" was passed by deputies in the lower house of parliament in Romania
2 minutos de lectura
(Bucharest).- Despite the unanimous vote, Romania's decision to ban gambling venues in rural areas and small communities with population of less than 15.000 residents, has triggered debate about their viability and implications".
What's known as the “law of slot machines” was passed by deputies in the lower house of parliament."It is the first law adopted in Parliament in 30 years against this mafia that has controlled the political world until now," said Alfred Simonis, the leader of the Social Democrats.
"Right now we are fighting an industry that has a total turnover of €10-12 billion."
Industry figures complain they were not consulted, and hope that the authorities will control the black market as they promised.
Despite the unanimous vote, there was some dissent within the chamber. Two opposition parties that want to ban the "scourge" of gambling outright accuse the government of collusion with the gaming sector for not taking a stronger position.
On another front Ionut Mosteanu, the leader of the opposition USR, questioned how lawmakers had set the threshold.
“They thought that slot machines only damage 15,000 people," he said. "There was not even a debate to see how many townships qualify for this 15,000. Why not 16, 17, why not two million and you would ban them definitively?"
Gambling venues have become ubiquitous across Romania over the last few decades. The National Gaming Office, the state body that monitors and approves the sector, has registered 12,000 sports betting, bingo, casino, lottery rooms.
The state collects taxes from gambling venue licenses and online ticket sales as from the amount betting houses spend on advertising.
By Gavin Blackburn
Categoría:Legislation
Tags: Sin tags
País: Romania
Región: EMEA
Event
ICE Barcelona 2026
19 de January 2026
Tomás Galarza: "This edition of ICE was especially relevant for ASAP"
(Barcelona, SoloAzar Exclusive). Following his participation in ICE Barcelona 2026, Tomás Galarza, a Political Science graduate and foreign trade expert at ASAP, shares his insights on global trends, international business opportunities, and the company's strategic priorities for this year.
Wednesday 04 Feb 2026 / 12:00
Win Systems Expands Presence in Spain and Highlights Route Operations at ICE 2026
(Barcelona).- At ICE 2026 in Barcelona, Win Systems showcased its innovative gaming solutions for the Spanish market, emphasizing Player Tracking, Win Pay, and route operations to enhance operator performance and player engagement.
Wednesday 04 Feb 2026 / 12:00
Spintec Showcases Next-Generation Electronic Table Games at ICE Barcelona 2026
(Volcja Draga).- Spintec reinforced its position as a leading innovator in electronic table games during ICE Barcelona 2026, standing out within The Merkur Group’s expansive exhibition through a diverse portfolio of immersive products focused on player comfort, dynamic gameplay and efficient use of gaming floor space.
Tuesday 03 Feb 2026 / 12:00
SUSCRIBIRSE
Para suscribirse a nuestro newsletter, complete sus datos
Reciba todo el contenido más reciente en su correo electrónico varias veces al mes.