Romania Debates Major Gambling Age and Ad Restrictions

Two major pieces of legislation have been introduced in Romania as members of the Liberal Pro Europe Coalition seek to reshape the country’s entire approach to gambling policy. The proposals, submitted by MPs Raluca Turcan and Diana Stoica, target youth protection, stricter advertising rules, and long-overdue structural reform of the country’s regulatory framework. Together, the bills signal a political environment increasingly aligned on the need for broad changes across the sector.

Push to Raise the National Gambling Age Threshold

The first proposal comes from Raluca Turcan of the Liberal Party (PNL), who has called for the legal gambling age to be lifted from 18 to 21. Her bill represents the party’s first formal step toward gambling reform under the new coalition government and focuses squarely on preventing early exposure among young adults.

Turcan argues that individuals between 18 and 21 occupy “the most emotionally and financially vulnerable stage of those entering adulthood,” adding that this period is shaped by limited financial experience, unstable decision-making, and an increased susceptibility to high-risk behaviour. She described the measure as “the simplest measure to restrict gambling at the most fragile age,” emphasising that the change would provide “a window of emotional and financial maturity” before young adults gain access to gambling.

Her proposal also references precedents in Portugal, Greece, and Moldova, where similar age-limit increases reportedly helped reduce early-stage gambling harm and youth indebtedness. It additionally reflects recommendations from a youth report prepared by Save the Children, which urged Romania to both increase the minimum gambling age and prohibit gambling advertising across all forms of media.

A second source similarly highlights this age-related focus, noting that lawmakers consider the 18–21 bracket “one of the most fragile stages of life” and an increasingly targeted demographic for online betting promotions.

Calls for Advertising Restrictions and Structural Accountability

A separate bill filed by Diana Stoica of the Save Romania Union (USR) introduces even broader restrictions. Stoica’s proposal responds to what she describes as a “national drama hiding in plain sight,” pointing to research indicating that one in four Romanian minors has taken part in gambling activities before turning 18, with some beginning as young as 14.

Her bill includes an 06:00–24:00 prohibition on online gambling advertising, mirroring the digital consumption patterns of minors and young adults. It also seeks to remove influencers, athletes, and public personalities from all gambling campaigns on the grounds that these figures “normalise betting” for younger audiences. Additional measures would mandate highly visible addiction-risk warnings and outlaw indirect forms of advertising such as sponsorship arrangements that function as concealed marketing.

Both Turcan and Stoica’s initiatives would overhaul the Law of Games of Chance, originally introduced in 2009 and last updated in 2023. The reforms are designed to bring Romania’s legislation in line with digital-era challenges and embed stricter obligations around youth exposure, marketing practices, and risk-awareness messaging. A second source points out that countries such as Belgium, Greece, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Italy have already adopted similarly strict regimes, with Italy and Moldova even implementing complete advertising bans.

Oversight Failures Prompt Wider Regulatory Reform

The reform effort arrives after a turbulent year for Romania’s regulator, ONJN, which has faced intense criticism following a failed financial audit. The investigation revealed that the authority had neglected to collect close to €1bn in tax and licensing obligations. While ONJN attributed the issue to outdated collection systems and annual adjustments to gambling duties since 2018, the episode led to an institutional shake-up and the appointment of Vlad-Cristian Soare as the regulator’s new leader.

Despite the leadership change, USR continues to advocate for dismantling ONJN entirely. The party has suggested transferring temporary oversight of gambling to the Ministry of Taxation until a new regulatory authority with modernised compliance capabilities can be established. Their position has been further reinforced by local governments, as several mayors demanded the right to license and tax gambling premises directly, stating they had “lost all trust” in the national authority.

Coalition Momentum Signals a Sector Reset

These legislative efforts coincide with the broader objectives of Romania’s new governing coalition, which aims to realign taxation, regulation, and digital-economy policies. Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare, appointed under President Nicușor Dan, has been tasked with revisiting gambling taxation. A redesigned tax system is planned for June 2026, introducing tiered taxes on player winnings and higher licensing fees. Nazare stated, “We want to send a very important signal regarding the taxation of gambling, which we know very well how harmful it is to vulnerable communities when left unchecked.”

While the paths of the PNL and USR proposals differ, the underlying message is shared: Romania intends to implement a comprehensive restructuring of the gambling sector. Further legislative activity is expected as policymakers prepare additional measures concerning education, prevention, compliance, and long-term youth safeguards, with 2026 shaping up to be a decisive year for the direction of gambling governance in the country.

Source:

Romania to set 21+ iGaming age as Parliament considers dual reform proposals, sbcnews.co.uk, November 17, 2025.