Iași Becomes Romania’s First County to Eliminate Slot Machine Venues

Romania’s gambling industry has entered a new era—and it isn’t being driven by Parliament or the National Gambling Office. It’s being shaped by city halls.

Iași County has become the first county in Romania where every local authority has voted to eliminate slot machine venues, either immediately or as existing permits expire. Supporters call it a landmark victory for communities. The gambling industry, however, warns that pushing legal operators out of towns may simply create space for illegal gambling and unregulated online alternatives.

This isn’t just another local political story. It could become the blueprint for dozens of municipalities across Romania. Whether you’re an operator, investor, regulator, or simply following the gambling sector, the decisions made in Iași could reshape how gambling is regulated nationwide.

Here’s how Iași reached this milestone, why local governments suddenly hold unprecedented power over gambling venues, and what the long-term consequences could be for Romania’s regulated gaming industry.

What You’ll Learn

• Why Iași became the first Romanian county to eliminate slot machine venues.
• How OUG No. 7/2026 shifted gambling powers to local authorities.
• Why the debate extends beyond public health to legal and economic concerns.
• What this trend could mean for Romania’s land-based gambling market.

Romania’s Gambling Regulation Is No Longer Controlled Only by ONJN

For years, Romania’s gambling policy followed a largely centralized model.

The National Gambling Office (ONJN) issued licenses.

Operators complied with national legislation.

Local authorities had relatively limited influence over whether gambling venues could operate within their communities.

That balance has now changed.

Following the adoption of Emergency Ordinance (OUG) No. 7/2026, local councils gained the authority to decide whether slot machine venues should be allowed, restricted, relocated, or prohibited altogether.

Iași County has become the first major test of this new approach.

Every Municipality in Iași Has Taken Action

According to local civic groups, all 98 municipalities across Iași County have now adopted resolutions targeting slot machine venues.

Some administrations opted for immediate bans.

Others chose a gradual phase-out, allowing existing authorizations to expire before operations cease.

The final municipality to approve such measures was Pașcani, completing what supporters describe as an unprecedented county-wide effort.

Regardless of the approach, the outcome is effectively the same.

Traditional slot halls are disappearing from the county.

Civic Pressure Played a Major Role

The legislation alone did not produce these decisions.

Local campaign groups spent months lobbying councils, organizing public meetings, and gathering signatures.

A petition supported by Declic reportedly collected more than 7,400 signatures from residents across Iași County.

Religious organizations, community leaders, and local associations also backed the campaign.

The message presented to elected officials was straightforward.

Communities wanted fewer gambling venues in residential areas.

Local councils responded.

Iași Municipality Set the Tone

The city of Iași became one of the most influential examples.

Its local council unanimously approved the “Fără Păcănele” (No Slot Machines) initiative, establishing a gradual elimination process rather than immediate closure.

Existing venues will remain open until their permits expire.

According to ONJN data referenced during the debate, the last authorizations are expected to expire by February 2027.

At present, the city still hosts 773 slot machines, representing a small fraction of Romania’s national total of more than 105,000 licensed gaming machines.

The Debate Was Far From One-Sided

Public discussions often frame these measures as obvious victories.

The reality proved more complex.

Several municipalities witnessed heated debates between local authorities, civic organizations, and gambling operators.

Supporters of the restrictions argued that reducing the visibility of gambling venues could help protect vulnerable individuals and limit social harm.

Operators raised different concerns.

Their arguments focused on:

• Loss of local employment.
• Reduced tax revenue.
• Investments made under valid national licenses.
• The possibility that players migrate to illegal gambling.
• Increased use of offshore online casinos beyond Romanian supervision.

These concerns deserve consideration.

History from several European jurisdictions suggests that eliminating legal gambling supply does not automatically eliminate gambling demand.

Consumers often adapt.

The question is where they choose to gamble next.

One Law, Many Different Local Strategies

OUG No. 7/2026 offers local administrations several regulatory options.

An outright ban is only one of them.

Municipalities may also:

• Limit gambling venues to specific commercial zones.
• Relocate operators outside residential neighborhoods.
• Introduce additional local licensing conditions.
• Apply local taxes where permitted by law.

Several Romanian cities have chosen different models.

That flexibility means Romania is unlikely to develop a single national approach.

Instead, operators may soon face dozens of local regulatory frameworks.

Other Romanian Cities Are Following

Iași is no longer an isolated example.

Across the country, municipalities have started using their expanded powers.

Among the most notable initiatives:

Sfântu Gheorghe

• Gambling venues restricted to the industrial zone.
• Annual local tax of RON 2,000 per square meter.
• Gambling advertising prohibited.
• Windows must remain fully opaque.

Miercurea-Ciuc

• Operations limited to industrial areas.
• Minimum annual fee of RON 50,000 per venue.
• No 24-hour operation.
• Mandatory video surveillance and security services.

Meanwhile, administrations in Brăila, Slatina, Ploiești, Bacău, Râșnov, Târgoviște, and Bucharest Sector 6 have introduced or announced similar restrictions.

The momentum is clearly growing.

Could This Strengthen the Illegal Market?

This is where the discussion becomes more complicated.

Removing licensed gambling venues may reduce visibility and accessibility.

That is precisely the objective of many local authorities.

However, international experience offers an important warning.

Countries with highly restrictive gambling policies often struggle with channelisation—the percentage of players using licensed operators instead of illegal alternatives.

If legal venues disappear while consumer demand remains unchanged, players may simply migrate toward:

• Illegal gambling venues.
• Offshore online casinos.
• Unlicensed betting platforms.
• Foreign operators beyond Romanian enforcement.

This does not mean restrictions are ineffective.

It means success depends on whether public policy reduces gambling participation—or merely shifts it elsewhere.

That distinction matters.

Romania Is Entering a New Regulatory Era

The most significant consequence of Iași’s decision may not be the closure of slot halls.

It is the redistribution of regulatory power.

For decades, ONJN largely controlled market access through national licensing.

Today, local governments possess meaningful authority over where gambling businesses can operate—or whether they can operate at all.

That represents one of the biggest structural changes to Romania’s gambling framework since online gambling regulation was introduced.

Operators will now need to manage not only national compliance but also increasingly diverse local political decisions.

Conclusion

Iași’s county-wide decision marks a historic moment for Romania’s gambling industry, but it is unlikely to end the national debate.

Supporters see stronger local control as a victory for communities. Operators argue that removing licensed venues without addressing illegal gambling could produce unintended consequences. Both perspectives deserve serious consideration.

The real measure of success will not be the number of slot halls that close. It will be whether these policies reduce gambling-related harm without driving players toward unlicensed operators beyond the reach of Romanian regulators. That is the challenge every municipality adopting similar restrictions will eventually have to answer.