Romania Weighs Major Shift as Lawmakers Seek Gambling Age of 21

Romanian legislators are advancing two significant proposals that could transform the country’s gambling landscape, raising the legal participation age to 21 and imposing strict limits on advertising. Together, the initiatives signal a broad political push to reset the regulatory system and reinforce protections for young people.

Reworked Age Restrictions and Tighter Ad Controls

One proposal, introduced on November 5, 2025, by PNL’s Raluca Turcan, calls for increasing the legal gambling age from 18 to 21. Turcan has urged fellow ministers to back what she describes as the “simplest measure to restrict gambling at the most fragile age”. She argues that those aged 18 to 21 are in what she previously called “one of the most fragile stages of life”, navigating early income, new responsibilities, and limited experience with long-term financial risks.

Her initiative mirrors policies already implemented in countries such as Portugal, Greece, and Moldova, where she notes that raising the age threshold has helped reduce youth indebtedness and early signs of addiction. The proposal also aligns with recommendations from Save the Children, which has urged Romania to adopt a higher age limit and impose broad advertising restrictions.

The second proposal—introduced by Diana Stoica of USR—seeks even tougher rules. Stoica frames her bill as a response to a “national drama hiding in plain sight,” highlighting research showing that one in four Romanian teenagers has gambled before turning 18. Her draft includes an 18-hour daily ban on online gambling advertising, from 06:00 to 24:00, and forbids influencers, athletes, or digital personalities from appearing in promotional content, arguing these figures “normalise betting” for younger audiences.

Structural Reform Across Romania’s Regulatory Landscape

Stoica’s proposal also demands bold measures to curb indirect promotional activity, restrict sponsorships used as covert advertising, and mandate visible “addiction-risk warnings” across platforms. Both bills would amend the national Law of Games of Chance, overhauling rules first outlined in 2009 in response to evolving digital consumption patterns.

Calls for reform have intensified following turmoil at the national regulator, ONJN. Earlier in the year, a failed audit revealed nearly €1bn in uncollected tax and licensing revenue, sparking public criticism and a change in leadership with the appointment of Vlad-Cristian Soare.

Yet scrutiny continues, with the USR advocating for ONJN’s dissolution and the Ministry of Taxation overseeing gambling governance until a new authority is established. Local mayors, frustrated by fiscal shortfalls, have echoed similar concerns v, stating they have “lost all trust” in the regulator and want authority to license and tax operators directly.

Coalition Momentum Toward Comprehensive Change

These legislative moves coincide with a broader policy reset under Romania’s new Liberal Pro Europe Coalition government. The administration is preparing long-term reforms touching taxation, digital policy, and oversight. Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare, appointed by President Nicușor Dan, has been tasked with restructuring gambling taxation by June 2026.

Although Turcan’s and Stoica’s proposals differ in scope, both reinforce a growing consensus: Romania’s gambling sector requires extensive modernization. Lawmakers expect additional measures addressing youth education, prevention programs, compliance standards, and accountability mechanisms as the country approaches what many view as a pivotal year for regulatory change.

Source:

“Romania to set gambling age at 21 as coalition pushes sector reset”, sbcnews.co.uk. November 17, 2025