FEDBET warns Romania may lose 80% of licensed gambling venues
Regulation2 min read
The Federation of Romanian Gambling Organisers warned that Romania could lose about 80% of authorised gambling venues because municipalities have delayed local licensing decisions. FEDBET estimated that legally permitted gaming machines could fall from 15,579 on 1 November to 9,096 by 1 January 2027, while reporting estimated losses of 320 million lei by the end of 2026.
By the end of 2026, Romania could lose around 80% of its authorized gambling venues and slot machines, the Federation of Romanian Gambling Organisers (FEDBET) warns. Delayed local licensing decisions are chiefly responsible. Operators seeking permit renewals face uncertainty following the implementation of Emergency Government Ordinance No. 7/2026.
Under the ordinance, municipalities received the power to authorize gambling activity in their regions. FEDBET said local council decisions are needed for companies to secure permission, and the National Gambling Office cannot extend licences without council agreement. By the end of April, less than 4% of Romania’s about 3100 administrative-territorial units had taken the necessary decisions.
The number of gaming machines expected to have legal permission in the country by November 1st is 15,579. It is expected to drop to 9,096 by January 1, 2027 if local authorities do not take the necessary action. FEDBET estimates a fall in slot machine numbers from 43,306 to approximately 9,000.
Uncertainty over licensing regulations has already affected around 8,500 jobs, according to FEDBET. Financial losses are estimated at around 320 million lei by the end of 2026. A projected 750 million lei gap in gambling tax receipts had previously appeared in Romania’s Ministry of Finance proposal to amend the 2026 budget. FEDBET president Alexandru Domșa said the ministry’s figure covered losses before authorisations began expiring in large numbers; he added that each job lost also deprives the state of taxes and contributions.
FEDBET said venue closures could push customers towards unlicensed operators rather than eliminate demand. Domșa said unlicensed sites lacked age checks, deposit limits and protective measures, and did not contribute revenue to the state.
A vote in Timișoara barred new gambling venues, while allowing existing ones to remain open only until their licences expire. In 2024, Romania banned slot machine venues in towns with fewer than 15,000 residents and tightened zoning and advertising rules. The country’s slot machine total has since dropped from around 80,000 to approximately 36,000.
FEDBET asked authorities to issue temporary measures allowing operators that comply with the new rules to continue working until local councils decide.