Romania could lose around 80% of its authorised slot machines and gambling venues by the end of 2026 unless local authorities resolve a licensing impasse, the Federation of Romanian Gambling Organisers (FEDBET) has warned.
Emergency Government Ordinance (GEO) No. 7/2026 gave local councils a role in granting gambling permissions, but fewer than 4% of Romania's approximately 3,100 administrative-territorial units had adopted the required decisions by the end of the 60-day deadline in April. The National Office for Gambling (ONJN) cannot renew operating licences without these local permits. The number of authorised slot machines fell from 43,306 in March to 15,579 by 1 November, and FEDBET expects it to reach 9,096 by 1 January—a decline of 42% in two months.
FEDBET is calling on the Government and Parliament to introduce temporary rules allowing operators that meet existing legal requirements to continue operating until local councils make their decisions. The federation argues the licensing blockage will push demand towards unlicensed operators, where age checks and deposit limits do not apply. FEDBET estimates about 8,500 jobs have been affected so far, with potential losses reaching approximately 320 million lei by year end. The Ministry of Finance included a shortfall of 750 million lei in gambling tax revenues in its 2026 budget-amendment project, though this figure reflects losses only before mass permit expiries began.
