Romania’s parliament has voted in favor of a series of strict gambling restrictions on the sector, marking an important shift in the regulatory landscape. 

The list of regulations includes a ban on slot machines as well as the shutdown of gambling halls in smaller settlements with a population under 15,000 people.

The new decisions that have already been enacted have sparked a lot of controversy while also attracting praise from anti-gambling supporters. 

Uncommon Display of Unity 

The enactment of the new measures follows months of dormancy for the country’s proposed gambling law, which all of a sudden found itself thrown into the spotlight, quickly passing through all parliamentary committees and receiving the unanimous seal of approval from all political parties. 

This was quite an uncommon display of unity shown by Romania’s political area. 

The measures received 243 votes in favor, two against, and four abstained. 

Despite the bill’s unanimous support, the opposition has already raised concerns over the possible collusion between representatives of the gambling sector and government officials. 

More accountability and transparency are required as a result of accusations regarding undue influence and backroom deals, which have cast a shadow over the entire legislative process. 

Commercial Premises Require Town Hall Certificates 

According to the fresh legislation, to be allowed to operate slot machine games, commercial venues need to be located in administrative-territorial units that count a population that does not go over 15,000 inhabitants, as per a certificate released by their town halls. 

The law also states that it is prohibited to provide, directly or indirectly, gambling-related services to unauthorized entities and specific technical measures to prevent illegal access to online gambling.

The same regulation requires the National Gaming Office (ONJN) to create and maintain an online public register containing a list of all licensed operators in the country. 

The register must receive updates daily. The new measures that require a technical implementation will be detailed in an order of the ONJN president, which will be issued within 90 days of the time the ordinance will come into effect. 

The same measure also forbids operators from providing direct and indirect associated gambling services to unauthorized entities as well as a series of technical measures that would prevent illegal access to online gambling. 

Last week, the country’s government sparked debate with the freshest appointment of celebrity hairdresser Cristian-Gabriel Pascu as the vice president of the National Gambling Office.

Last October, Romania announced its plans for higher fees and stricter demands for operators.

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The Government of Romania has announced the introduction of new rules for both online and offline gambling and sports betting, including a steep increase for license fees and slot machine fees.

The government approved these measures through an emergency ordinance, which means it will come into force straight away. However, the new piece of legislation will be discussed by the country’s Parliament at a later date, when it could be approved, modified or rejected altogether. Until then, casino and sportsbook operators will have to adjust their businesses to the new regulations.

The new rules include higher license costs, new rules for advertising, the prohibition of selling alcohol in gaming venues, along with a new requirement which forces all gambling businesses to have a fiscal headquarters in Romania.

The annual fees have gone up to 500,000 euros for online casinos, 200,000 euros for lottery businesses, 50,000 euros for pari-mutuel operations, 200,000 for fixed-odds betting, 4,000 euros per table for land-based casinos and 5,000 per club for brick-and-mortar poker rooms. Bingo games that are organized through television will also have to pay a licensing fee of 500,000 euros per year, while slot machines in land-based venues will carry a fee of 100 euros per machine, going up to 300 euros in 2024 and 500 euros in 2025.

Minimum Capitals Required

Moreover, the government’s emergency ordinance requires operators to hold minimum capitals that can cover the licensing costs. These minimum capitals are set based on the respective company’s total revenue, but will have a base threshold of 1 million euros starting from 2025.

The new rules also establish the destination of the money that will be collected from gambling operators. 70 percent of that revenue will go to the state’s general budget, while the remaining 30 percent will be invested by the state into responsible gambling initiatives.

Operators in Romania will be required to display their license information on all promotional materials and will have to refrain from sending unsolicited emails to their customers. Moreover, billboards containing gambling and sports betting ads will have a maximum size of 35 square meters.

There have been several initiatives to change the gambling laws in Romania in recent years but so far none managed to successfully go through the parliamentary process. When announcing the new emergency ordinance, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu underlined that he won’t be intimidated by the companies in the gambling sector and accused other politicians of having been too receptive to the demands of the industry’s lobbying efforts.

Observers expected the government to sign off on the emergency ordinance yesterday. On Tuesday, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu claimed to not be intimidated by threats from the gaming sector, accusing some politicians in the past of caving into industry lobbying.

Source: “Romania increases online gambling licence fee to €500,000“. iGaming Business. October 6, 2023.

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The company has launched its product portfolio with Win2, a new iGaming brand that has rolled out its products in the Romanian online casino market. 7777 is bringing a comprehensive offering that includes games, gamification and marketing tools, tournaments, cash drops, and much more to make Win2 a worthwhile option for local players.

Win2 Determined to Conquer the Romanian Market

The company is already deploying 70 games and has operated its titles in the market with proven success. This new collaboration will allow Win2 to secure a footprint in the market and quickly scale its presence, even as a new company.

7777 gaming account manager Larisa Karaboycheva welcomed the opportunity to see this partnership form in the market and said:

Our partnership with Win2 adds another level of excitement to our team. This is the second integration for us that goes live in Romania and is incremental for our success as an all-in-one B2B iGaming provider on the market. We are moving fast on the Romanian market with many new deals coming their way.

The collaboration was naturally welcomed by Win2 CEO Plamen Milanov who said that the company was indeed excited to be launching in the Romanian market, and with the help of 7777 not least.

Growth Driven by Quality Gaming Products

“Their platform, marketing solutions, and unique games have made it easy for us to grow our audience in the Romanian market, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them as we continue to grow,” Milanov added.

7777 gaming is deploying a number of its titular and player-favorite games, including Sea of Treasures, Jinn Greenhats’ Jackpot, Club Mr. Luck and Zeus Quest, which are some of the company’s more innovative products.

7777 gaming will also be introducing its products and extensive gaming portfolio at the upcoming SBC Summit Barcelona event which will see a number of the aforementioned games get the limelight at the company’s booth at the Fira de Barcelona.

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Stakelogic, a developer of traditional and video slots, has signed another Romania-facing deal. As announced, the company will supply the Romanian Princess Casino with its games, allowing its players to “fire up the reels” on Stakelogic’s games for the very first time.

Thanks to the partnership, Princess Casino players will get to experience some of Stakelogic’s finest games. The provider is known for its games that are designed to appeal to “traditional slot machine purists” while still appealing to other demographics as well.

Stakelogic’s games are suitable for slot experts and casino newcomers alike, thanks to a combination of instantly-recognizable symbols, such as fruits, BARs, Bells and 7s. Gameplay is further enhanced by a plethora of mechanics such as wild symbols, multipliers and free spins.

Following the deal, players of Princess Casino will be able to play classic games such as Multi6Player, Big Runner Deluxe and Multi4Player. In addition, a variety of video slots will become available to the operator, including games such as Treasures of Ra, Greedy Fox, Money Track 2, Bison Blocks and the upcoming Eric’s Big Catch and Candyways Bonanza 3 Megaways.

In addition, many of Stakelogic’s games feature engagement-boosting features such as Super Stake and Spin to Win, making the experience even more thrilling.

An Important Integration for Princess Casino

Danila Dzehs, senior sales manager at Stakelogic, addressed the deal. He praised Princess Casino as a leading operator in Romanian iGaming, saying that it offers incredible experiences to its players.

Following this partnership, it [Princess Casino] will now be able to make our classic and video slots available to its players for the first time, further standing out from its rivals.

Danila Dzehs, senior sales manager, Stakelogic

Dzehs added that his team is passionate about each of the games it develops. He hopes that Stakelogic’s titles will amaze Romanian players and is looking forward to seeing their reaction.

Meanwhile, Daniela Asaftei, Princess Casino’s head of CRM, said:

Stakelogic has been making headlines for quite some time now with its innovations and blockbuster game launches, so we absolutely wanted to add both its classic and video titles to our game lobby.

Daniela Asaftei, head of CRM, Princess Casino

Asaftei added that the studio knows how to provide unparalleled slot experiences that are greatly enhanced by the Super Stake feature. She concluded that the deal with Stakelogic represents a “significant integration” for the operator.

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Spribe is now able to expand its content portfolio across the region on a firmer foothold as the company has received the necessary certification from Gaming Associates to operate its advanced gaming titles in both Romania and Italy.  Gaming Associates is an established testing firm that ensures that the products and games offered by an iGaming supplier are based on a fair algorithm.

Spribe Clears Technical Certification Hurdle

As an interesting bonus, the licensure in Romania is also recognized by the Malta Gaming Authority, further boosting Spribe’s reach. The company, which became famous for its Aviator game, has been delivering a range of innovative and out-of-the-box games over the past months.

Some of its main game titles include Mines, Goal, and Hi-Lo. All of these games have been redesigned based on popular gaming concepts. The most successful of those genres has been Aviator which invites players to push their luck by taking a plane to the sky and ejecting before the plane crashes. The farther up they soar, the bigger the multiplier win they stand to collect.

Commenting on this important milestone, Spribe CCO Giorgi Tsutskiridze said that the company was excited to see its Turbo Games portfolio, the collective name for the company’s innovative and unorthodox games, now be available to roll out in both markets. Tsutskiridze added:

This will allow our partners to stand out from their rivals through next-generation content that appeals to an important but hard to engage audience.

Spribe CCO Giorgi Tsutskiridze

The executive noted that the entire company was excited to see how its games will fare in the new markets and what value they could bring to players with the portfolio entering the designated countries for the very first time.

The Supplier Continues to Grow Globally

Spribe is presently live with more than 2,000 operators worldwide and it continues to grow. Entering new jurisdictions in Europe will allow Spribe to significantly scale up and add more players, brands, and explore new opportunities.

Earlier this week, Spribe obtained a license from the Spelinspektionen, the Swedish licensing and regulatory authority. The company has also been focusing on establishing aggregation partnerships, with companies such as Groove in order to further amplify its geographical footprint.

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Stakelogic’s games are now available to players in Romania through MaxBet.ro, a popular local operator that has a deep reach with local audiences and players. MaxBet.ro and Stakelogic are partnering up for the first team, and this partnership may serve as the basis of future expansion.

Stakelogic and MaxBet Sign Inaugural Partnership

Stakelogic brings a variety of video and classic slots, which are integrated through EveryMatrix, a leading aggregation services provider and trusted partner that has facilitated the onboarding. Among the games that MaxBet.ro players will see featured are such excellent choices such as Bonus Runner, Big Runner Deluxe, Multi-Player, Multi6Player, and others.

Players also stand to benefit from more established content by the supplier, including games such as Spartans vs Zombies Megaways, Greedy Fox, Money Track 2, MoneyTrack, Treasures of Ra, and more. These games feature signature mechanics such as Super Stake and Spin to Win to make the gameplay more rewarding and fun.

Commenting on this fresh market opportunity, Stakelogic senior sales manager Danila Dzehs said that her company welcomed the opportunity to introduce its games to MaxBet.ro for the very first time. The arrival of more classic & video slots that are hit in Europe is a cause for celebration as Dzehs is confident that the games will also prove popular in Romania. She said:

This is another important partnership for us, adding a player-favorite operator to our impressive roster of customers. We now look forward to seeing MaxBet.ro players enjoy the max entertainment our games have allowed us to build our reputation on.

Stakelogic senior sales manager Danila Dzehs

Stakelogic Continues to Expand Its Reach

Commenting on this partnership opportunity, MaxBet.ro promotional manager Secaci Matei said that Stakelogic would help turbo-charge the available offer at the operator and elevate the experience for players.

In the meantime, Stakelogic has been expanding its footprint significantly. The company announced a content partnership with Glitnor Group in Sweden, and it further strengthened its reach in the US iGaming market through a license obtained in Pennsylvania.

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BETER Live, a provider of next-gen live casino products and gaming solutions, has opened two new studios in Europe to keep up with the demand for its content. One of the studios sports a European style, while the other one is in an Indian style, the company announced.

The two new studios were described as state-of-the-art facilities designed to provide a “sophisticated, stylish and relaxed environment” for BETER Live players. The company’s team has made it so players can always find tables tailored to their preferences.

Some tables have a cinematic atmosphere, evoking the feeling of a traditional casino. Others are darker and will use LED lighting to look sportier. Lastly, there is a selection of modern tables designed to appeal to the younger generation of bettors.

BETER Live’s signature mint color is visible on each table in the European-style studio, making the company branding much more recognizable. That studio combines classic design with a modern approach and leverages floral patterns behind the glass to make players feel relaxed.

The Indian-style studio, on the other hand, features traditional Asian games and an Eastern aesthetic. Its design has been consulted with local specialists to reflect the East’s cultural traditions.

Players can have a look at both studios by watching exclusive digital tours on BETER Live’s official YouTube channel.

The Studios Indicate BETER’s Direction

BETER Live’s director, Anna Vikmane, commented on the launch of the two new studios. She said that she is proud of what the company’s team has achieved and of how much the company has grown. However, she added that these are “only the first steps” in the company’s growth journey.

These are only the first steps, and we have no intention of slowing down regarding our expansion into new locations. We also pay special attention to dedicated tables and studios that meet our partners’ requirements.

Anna Vikmane, director, BETER Live

Meanwhile, Gal Ehrlich, BETER’s chief executive officer, said that the new Romanian studios “indicate where the company is heading.” He added that his team is always hunting new opportunities to provide customers with engaging experiences.

BETER’s philosophy, according to Ehrlich, is to provide customers with cutting-edge products that dazzle them with superior design, while impressing them with their technical quality.

BETER Live has cemented itself as a top provider thanks to the quality of its live casino games and the professionalism of its dealers. Each of the hosts is trained to the highest possible standard and excels in making players feel special.

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The leading developer of cutting-edge, innovative gaming content present in more than 18 regulated jurisdictions has announced its collaboration with the Romanian operator as a means of strengthening its presence in the country. 

Fresh Playson Releases to Reach the Romanian Market 

According to the freshly-inked deal between the two parties, LasVegas will add Playson’s rich selection of top-tier games to its constantly growing players database in the country. 

Both online and offline players visiting the largest network of elegantly designed gaming rooms in Romania will enjoy the chance to test out the cool variety of slots featuring different themes and game mechanics that have already proven their potential to drive engagement.

The list features some of Playson’s freshly released titles such as Treasures of Fire, Pirate Sharky, and Luxor Gold: Hold and Win, among other player-favorite games like Mammoth Peak Hold and Win, Bozo Cats, Pirate Chest Hold and Win, Solar Queen, Book of Gold Multichance, and Wolf Power Megaways. 

By adding LasVegas to its roster of Romanian operators, Playson will further establish itself as one of the leading suppliers in the regulated market in the region while preparing the ground for the rest of the year.

The provider’s chief customer officer Tamas Kusztos spoke about their well-established presence in Romania, calling the fresh partnership with the operator one that would reaffirm Playson “as a leading provider within the Balkans.”

Ready for a “Fantastic Collaboration”

Kusztos also praised “LasVegas’ ability to prove its worth in the last few years and turn into a “brilliant online casino” while expressing their eagerness to kickstart what they hope would be a fantastic collaboration. 

LasVegas’ chief executive officer Radu-Birsan Alexandru said they were “delighted to forge a partnership with Playson,” putting special emphasis on their rich portfolio of highly respected games in all parts of the planet.

Owned and operated by Dimsacon LTD, a Malta-registered company, LasVegas has chosen “SKY IS NO LIMIT” as its motto. With over two decades of experience in the Romanian gambling market, the gambling company has been awarded multiple titles in the past years, including a prize for “The brand with the most dynamic development in the gaming industry” and “The best gambling operator outside of Bucharest”. 
At the start of the year, Playson inked a content integration deal with Grand Casino Baden in Switzerland. Last month, Playson announced the launch of its games with Bingoal in the Netherlands.

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