Senate Votes in Favour of Stricter Gambling Access Rules
The two bills were submitted in November 2025 by PNL MP Raluca Turcan and USR deputy Diana Stoica, with backing from parliamentarians across USR, PNL, UDMR, and PSD. The first bill, which proposes raising the minimum age for gambling participation from 18 to 21, was adopted by the Senate with 96 votes in favour, 8 against, and 2 abstentions.
Proponents of the age increase argue that many individuals between 18 and 21 are still in the process of financial and emotional maturation, making them more exposed to compulsive gambling behaviours. PNL MP Raluca Turcan pointed to Portugal, Greece, and the Republic of Moldova as jurisdictions that have already implemented a 21-year minimum age requirement with measurable results.
“We have an obligation to protect our children from the threat of gambling.”
Diana Stoica, USR Deputy
Daytime Advertising Ban and Influencer Restrictions
The second bill targets gambling advertising on online platforms, proposing a ban on all such promotions between 06:00 and 24:00. If enacted, the restriction would effectively limit online gambling advertising to a narrow overnight window. The legislation also seeks to prohibit influencers, athletes, and other public figures based in Romania from participating in gambling promotions.
Turcan noted that a significant proportion of high school students in Romania report having entered gambling venues or engaged with betting, adding urgency to the legislative push.
“We are trying, although many bills with good ideas are blocked in Parliament as a result of the influence of the gambling industry on some politicians. It is a reality that we do not want to hide under the rug. 14% of high school students say that they have played, entered gambling halls, and 3 out of 10 say that they know someone who has used drugs in Romania.”
Raluca Turcan, PNL MP
Next Steps: Chamber of Deputies
Both bills now proceed to the Chamber of Deputies, which serves as the decisional body in Romania’s parliamentary process. If adopted and signed into law, Romania would implement some of the most restrictive gambling access and advertising rules in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Senate vote comes as Romania’s National Gambling Office (ONJN) is simultaneously pursuing its own 2026 reform agenda, including the rollout of a nationwide self-exclusion scheme and increased enforcement against unlicensed operators. ONJN president Vlad-Cristian Soare has previously described existing Romanian gambling legislation as “morally outdated,” signalling alignment with the direction of the parliamentary initiatives.
The Romanian gambling sector operates under Government Emergency Ordinance 77/2009, which has been subject to multiple proposed amendments in recent years. The outcome of the Chamber of Deputies review is expected to shape the regulatory framework for the country’s licensed operators ahead of the 2026 licence renewal cycle.
Source: Romanian Senate
