Romania: Your gambling licence will no longer be enough: a new local veto power that operators and investors cannot ignore

If you operate land-based gambling venues in Romania, your compliance map changed fundamentally on 25 February 2026.

Several municipalities have already taken steps to ban or restrict gambling, and more are expected to follow. Operators must now monitor local developments, prepare authorisation files and, where necessary, reconsider their footprint across Romanian localities.

Below we summarise the key legislative changes under Government Emergency Ordinance No. 7/2026 ("GEO 7/2026"), which amends Government Emergency Ordinance No. 77/2009 ("GEO 77/2009") on the organisation and exploitation of gambling. We also highlight the first wave of local implementation measures.

Local council decision power

These measures enable local authorities to prohibit or permit gambling based on local priorities and social considerations.

·       Local councils must now approve, by formal decision, whether gambling activities may be organised and exploited within the territorial units they represent.

·       Where a council permits gambling, operators must obtain a prior annual local operating authorisation (autorizație de funcționare) from the competent local authority. 

·       The local operating authorisation is in addition to (not a replacement for) the Romanian National Gambling Office (ONJN) licence and exploitation authorisation already required under GEO 77/2009.

Local regulatory framework

These measures establish the procedural and fiscal architecture for local authorisation regimes.

·       Councils that permit gambling must adopt, by council decision, a local regulation setting out the conditions for granting local operating authorisations.

·    Councils may define specific zones within their territory where gambling is permitted.

·       Councils may impose a local fee calculated per square metre of the gambling premises, payable within 30 days of the authorisation being issued, with the council decision publicised on its website and through other legally required means.

Local councils must adopt the implementing regulation under GEO 77/2009 within 60 days of the entry into force of GEO 7/2026 (i.e. by late April 2026).

Pre-activity local notice

This existing obligation remains in force alongside the new local authorisation requirements.

·    Before commencing activity in any locality, operators must notify the competent local authority in writing at least five days in advance, providing the start date and copies of their ONJN licence and exploitation authorisation.

First wave of local implementation

Several municipalities have already moved to exercise their new powers.

Iași

·       A draft council decision prohibiting the organisation and exploitation of gambling was published for public consultation on 3 March 2026, with exceptions for traditional lottery (loterie tradițională) and sports betting (pariuri sportive).

·       A companion draft regulation establishes the local authorisation framework for lottery and sports betting, including:

·       a proposed local tax of RON 500 per m² per year for 2026 and subject to annual revision by local authorities;

·       an extensive documentary dossier requirement, including: ascertaining certificate reflecting authorisation for carrying out activities falling under NACE Code (Rev.3) 9200 (Gambling and betting activities) at the said working unit; copies of ONJN licence and exploitation authorisation; title or right to use the premises; fire safety documentation; and evidence of no outstanding state, social security or local budget debts;

·       a prohibition on placing slot machines of any type within premises authorised for lottery and sports betting, with breach of this prohibition resulting in cancellation of the local operating authorisation.

Slatina

·       In an extraordinary session on 13 March 2026, the Slatina Local Council approved a decision prohibiting gambling and sports betting within the municipality, with an exception for lottery games operated by Loteria Română.

·       Operators holding valid ONJN exploitation authorisations may continue to carry out gambling activities at the established locations until those authorisations expire. As no new local authorisations will be granted thereafter, this will effectively result in a ban on the designated land-based gambling activities in Slatina.

Bucharest

All eyes will also be on what the Bucharest authorities decide. As of 16 March 2026, the Local Council of District 3 has requested the General Council of Bucharest (Consiliul General al Municipiului București) to adopt a decision prohibiting gambling activities in physical locations within the administrative territory of District 3.

The report accompanying the decision emphasises the high density of physical gambling locations in District 3, including in areas with high residential density and near points of public interest such as educational institutions, spaces frequented by minors, transport hubs and commercial zones with heavy pedestrian traffic. The supporting documentation thus highlights concerns regarding addiction risks, the economic vulnerability of low-income families, the exposure of minors to risky behaviour, impacts on public order and safety, and the deterioration of urban quality of life.

Whether the General Council will adopt a prohibition for District 3 specifically, or consider a city-wide approach, remains to be seen.

Other municipalities

Other municipalities have announced their intention to prohibit gambling activities within their territorial units:

·    Buzău City: A draft council decision dated 11 March 2026 proposes to prohibit gambling activities in physical locations within Buzău City, with an exception for activities under the state monopoly operated by Loteria Română. The draft cites 306 gambling points of work currently operating within the municipality. Operators with valid ONJN exploitation authorisations may continue until those periods expire.

·    Focșani: In a similar manner, a draft council decision dated 10 March 2026 proposes to prohibit gambling, with exceptions for traditional lottery games (Loteria Română) and sports betting operators – an approach similar to that of Iași. The draft contemplates a separate regulation for lottery and sports betting authorisation to be adopted by the council. According to the draft decision, there are approximately 459 gambling machines (slot machines, roulette, VLT) currently operated by private operators within the municipality.

·    Constanța: Based on publicly available information, Constanța has indicated an intent not to permit slot-machine venues.

Next steps

GEO 7/2026 is already in force, and local councils across Romania are moving fast. For land-based gambling operators, standing still is not an option. The priority now is to stay ahead of local developments on multiple fronts simultaneously.

All gambling operators should now:

·       monitor local council agendas in each municipality where they operate or plan to operate, to track whether councils will permit or prohibit gambling;

·       where permitted, prepare local authorisation files tailored to each territorial unit's emerging requirements;

·       assess footprint rationalisation in light of potential prohibitions or restrictive conditions in certain localities; and

·       track the 60-day deadline (late April 2026) for councils to adopt local regulations and engage early with local administrations to understand procedural and evidentiary expectations.

The national licencing regime remains fully in force: the new local authorisation layer sits on top of it, rather than replacing it. For operators, this creates a more complex compliance architecture. For investors and stakeholders in the gaming sector, it means that regulatory due diligence, asset evaluations and deal structuring must now account for a patchwork of local rules that is only beginning to take shape. We will continue to track these developments as they unfold.