Romania Strengthens Gambling Regulations to Ensure Responsible Gaming

Romania has passed legislation to restrict gambling establishments in towns with less than 15,000 residents, aiming to curb problem gambling and improve regulation. The legislation empowers the National Gaming Office to monitor illegal operators and maintain an updated public register. However, concerns remain over data accuracy and leadership appointments.

Romania Tightens Gambling Laws Amid Industry Expansion

The expansion of the gambling sector in Romania has resulted in an active and therefore legislative intervention from the authorities, calling for the solution to the biggest issue incurred – the area of problem gambling. By that decision made by the country’s legislators, all gambling facilities comprising of slot machines in townships and villages of less than 15, 000 residents are therefore banned.

Prominently located within ROM-AERO, this industry represents a truly influential economic power-earning symbol for the Romanian economy with a €12 billion valuation. The proposal got some exemplary backing from a few naysayers, including the opposing parties, which have raised their heads labeling the government as incompetent collaborators, in the gambling sector.

Room for improvement in the methodology behind the selection process was highlighted by Ionut Mosteanu, the leader of the opposition party USR. By asking why there are so many different communities (those with over 15,000 citizens) being singled out for being sustainable, while others are having to worry for them, the leader raised the question if the selection process is efficient and justified. The debate has raised several issues concerning more justice and consistency reported by the law.

Regulatory Strengthening and Oversight Efforts

The National Gaming Office of Romania (ONJN) is empowered with more substantial powers to suppress the spread of law-breaking gambling networks in the recent National Parliamentary meeting held in Romania. The bill that received a 243 as the majority vote, two people against it, and four abstentions got enrollment. It consists of a public register which will be a tool for control of all licensed gaming operators including online platforms.

ONJN should be the body that has an up-to-date and precise register of all the monitored operators in Romania. While these bands take place in the casino community, the number of individuals with gambling problems remains high: 100,000 people are said to suffer from an addiction. Nevertheless, comprehensive surveys about gambling problems have not been too big, at the same time as 2016, so the figures are not clear now.

Moreover, ONJN has been grappled with an attempt over the appointment of a stylist into its service with a celebrity background, forcing the regulator to respond to questions over value and credibility.