The Federation of Gambling Organisers in Romania, FEDBET, has warned that around 80 per cent of licensed slot machines and venues will leave the market by year end due to an administrative failure rather than a direct ban.
Less than 4 per cent of Romania's approximately 3,100 administrative-territorial units have adopted decisions required by ordinance GEO no. 7/2026, despite a 60-day deadline that expired in April. Without these local council decisions, mayors cannot issue local authorisations and the National Gambling Office cannot renew exploitation licences.
The number of slot machines with valid authorisation fell from 43,306 in March to 15,579 on November 1. By January 1, 2027, only 9,096 will remain—42 per cent fewer in two months. About 8,500 jobs have been affected so far.
The Ministry of Finance included 750 million lei in gambling tax losses in its draft 2026 budget rectification, but FEDBET says this captures only licensing fees and does not account for income tax, social contributions from redundant workers, or corporate income tax losses. The federation estimates total losses will reach approximately €320 million.
FEDBET argues that blocking authorisations will not eliminate demand but will push it toward unlicensed operators where age verification does not occur, deposit limits do not exist and the state collects no revenue. Across the European Union, the online gambling black market represents 72 per cent of the total market, with turnover around €92 billion and member states recording losses of approximately €22 billion during 2025 alone.
Alexandru Domșa, FEDBET's president, said the closure of authorised venues does not stop people from playing—many move to unlicensed sites where 'no one verifies age, there are no deposit limits or protection measures, and the state does not charge anything.' He called on the government and parliament to urgently adopt transitional rules allowing operators meeting legal conditions to continue operating until local decisions are adopted.
