Operator News
Romania – Romanian Prime Minister pledges powerful crackdown on ‘păcănele’ gambling
By Phil - 9 October 2023
Romania Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is looking to crack down on betting shops, casinos and amusement arcades, known collectively in the country as ‘Păcănele’ with the adoption of an emergency decree.
Looking to stop the flow of betting spend to companies outside of Romania he is enforcing the law that operating companies must be registered in Romania. The government will also significantly increase the cost of licence fees and will restrict the manner of advertising platforms for gambling industries. Outdoor advertising for betting and games is to be limited to 35 square meters. Alcohol consumption in gambling venues is to be banned.
Slot machine fees have been set at €100 per machine in 2023, increasing to €300 in 2024 and €500 in 2025. Casino tables have been set at €4,000 per table, poker at €5,000 per club, bingo in gaming halls at €5,000 whilst bingo organised via television at €500,000. Online licences will be set at €500,000, lottery will be set at €200,000, Video lottery terminals at €100 per machine, horseracing at €50,000, fixed-odds at €200,000.
He said: “Every limit has been exceeded. Gambling will no longer be able to function if the company is not registered in Romania. I am convinced that the state authorities will shed light into how these intermediaries want to pressure certain politicians to make decisions in favour of this industry, as has happened in the past. During the pandemic, they sat at the Government table! Now they threaten politicians and fire journalists, buying protection at the top of a foreign trust that has two big newspapers in Romania.”
