Romania has advanced long-awaited gambling advertising reforms after the Senate approved a package of proposals in late 2025, positioning the country for an early-2026 parliamentary decision on stricter marketing limits across public and digital channels.
The review process begins in January 2026, with the Chamber of Deputies expected to resume debate when the parliamentary session reconvenes in February. The proposals address multiple fronts, including restrictions on street-level and public-facing advertising alongside time-based limits for online and broadcast campaigns aimed at reducing exposure during peak hours for younger audiences.
Key Advertising Restrictions Under Review
The measures being examined by Romanian lawmakers include several significant changes to the current advertising landscape:
- Prohibition of street-level and other public-facing gambling advertisements
- Time-based restrictions for online and broadcast campaigns to limit youth exposure
- Broader alignment with consumer protection legislation
- Enhanced enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance
The Senate vote does not finalize the reforms but advances competing drafts to the Chamber of Deputies and relevant committees, where negotiations will determine the final legislative framework.
ONJN Positions for 2026 Enforcement Push
Romania’s National Gambling Office (ONJN) remains the country’s primary regulator amid ongoing political scrutiny. In early January, ONJN president Vlad-Cristian Soare published a 2026 programme emphasizing stronger enforcement and calling for comprehensive legislative modernization.
Soare characterized 2025 as an “uncomfortable” year for the regulator while highlighting enforcement results: more than 200 seized gaming machines, over 200 blocked or blacklisted illegal gambling websites, and 48 criminal complaints filed for financial crime and unlicensed operations.
“Any citizen can now verify where gaming machines are located, who owns them and whether they are legal,” Soare stated in the programme, referring to planned geolocation tools.
Q1 2026 Rollout: Self-Exclusion and QR Registry
ONJN has announced two major initiatives targeted for first-quarter 2026:
- Unified National Self-Exclusion System: A cross-channel programme covering both retail and online gambling operations
- QR-Based Registry Framework: A geolocation system integrated into ONJN’s central register allowing citizens to verify the legal status and ownership of gaming machines
Separate parliamentary reporting indicates the self-exclusion harmonization push aligns with the regulator’s implementation timeline for the first half of 2026.
Broader Legislative Rewrite on the Agenda
While advertising restrictions dominate immediate debate, both lawmakers and regulatory officials indicate the reforms represent part of a more comprehensive framework overhaul.
Soare has publicly advocated for a complete rewrite of Romania’s gambling legislation, urging policymakers to develop “a coherent and efficient legislative framework” to replace what he described as “a morally outdated” gambling law.
Cosmina Simion, managing partner at WH Simion & Partners, described the Senate’s action as part of a consolidation process: “Romania is entering a phase of regulatory consolidation in the gambling sector, including in relation to advertising rules.”
Simion added that 2026 should deliver “a stable and transparent regulatory environment” promoting responsible gambling, supporting licensed market sustainability, and limiting illegal operator growth.
Timeline and Next Steps
The parliamentary timeline is now defined following the Senate’s year-end actions:
- January 2026: Review process begins for approved Senate proposals
- February 2026: Chamber of Deputies expected to restart formal debate when parliamentary session opens
- First Half 2026: Committee negotiations to shape final legislative package
Legal observers are treating early 2026 as a critical juncture for Romania’s gambling sector, with the advertising debate serving as the opening phase of a wider reform cycle addressing player protection, enforcement capacity, regulatory authority, and the fundamental structure of the country’s gambling framework.
The outcome will determine whether Romania pursues incremental adjustments to existing regulations or implements a comprehensive rewrite of its gambling legislation.
Source: SBC News
