Timișoara city council has voted unanimously to ban new licences for gambling halls. Mayor Dominic Fritz announced the decision on Tuesday, saying that existing venues will operate only until current licences expire — closure is expected by 2027.
The city has 173 licensed gambling establishments at present. They operate under central licences issued from Bucharest. The national lottery will continue to run; it is the only format that remains permitted. Funds freed from supervising the halls will go toward educational infrastructure — building schools and upgrading kindergartens.
The decision follows the transfer of gambling licensing powers from central to local government. Since early 2024, local authorities have had the right to veto new venues and impose outright bans. The Romanian government has tightened regulation: in towns with populations below 15,000, slot halls are banned entirely, and zoning restrictions and strict advertising rules are now in force.
The number of gaming machines in the country has fallen by more than half — from 80,000 to 36,000 units. According to H2 Gambling Capital, land-based GGR in 2025 reached €1.67bn, roughly a third of Romania's total gambling market.
