REGULATORY REFORM IN ROMANIA
encourage individuals, particularly minors and those prone to addiction, to engage in high-risk behavior. By banning gambling ads in the public sphere, the law aims to protect vulnerable citizens from unwanted exposure to addictive messages, reduce the prevalence of gambling addiction and its negative socio-economic effects, and align national legislation with European trends in protecting public health and preventing addictive behaviors. In essence, the initiative frames gambling advertising as a public health matter akin to tobacco or alcohol, an influence to be pushed out of everyday environments for the greater good. The bill’s initiators also noted that many European countries are moving in a similar direction. If enacted, besides fines, regulators may also order the removal of illegal advertisements, mandate corrective public notices, or publish the names of offending entities. While the fines may appear modest in financial terms (ranging from RON 1,500 to RON 4,000 – approximately €300 to €800), the resulting reputational damage and compliance scrutiny for major operators could carry far greater consequences. It is worth noting that this is not the first attempt to reform gambling advertising laws in Romania. A comprehensive draft bill in 2023 originally sought to prohibit all forms of gambling advertising in all media. However, lawmakers later withdrew that provision during Senate debates, considering it too restrictive and potentially harmful to the licensed gambling sector and to state tax revenues. Instead, a more moderate set of advertising restrictions was adopted. Those rules, effective mid-2023, imposed a limit on outdoor billboard size to the maximum size of 35 m². Furthermore, since October 2025, it is illegal in Romania for any public personality (whether a
sports star, artist, or social media influencer) to appear in gambling advertising on television, radio or via social media. This rule was introduced by the National Audiovisual Council as part of the new Audiovisual Code (Decision no. 573/2025) and has forced operators to terminate or rework endorsement deals with well-known brand ambassadors. For context, the Romanian market in recent years has been saturated with celebrity- endorsed gambling campaigns, as many licensed operators entered into commercial contracts with local public figures to promote their brands. That practice has now come to an abrupt end on several media channels. From a social perspective, the tightening of advertising rules would appear to reflect growing public unease with the normalization of gambling in everyday life. By restricting visibility across streets, media, and social platforms, Romania seems intent on reducing the constant exposure that can desensitize younger audiences and fuel addiction risks. Whether these restrictions will meaningfully curb such exposure or merely shift it to digital spaces remains an open question. Outlook and reflections The final months of 2025 mark a transformative period for Romania’s gambling law regime, characterized by assertive regulatory interventions. On one front, the government and ONJN are cracking down on the supply side of illicit gambling, exemplified by the high- profile blacklisting of Polymarket and efforts to block unlicensed websites and their facilitators. On another front, lawmakers are targeting the demand side stimulants, placing new limits on how and where gambling can be promoted to the public. Both strategies face a common challenge: how to effectively enforce rules in the digital age without driving players to the shadow market or infringing legitimate business.
ANDREI COSMA Partner, BACIU PARTNERS For information contact +40-31 437 80 13 andrei.cosma@baciupartners.ro
ADELA NUTA Managing Associate, BACIU PARTNERS
IMGL MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2025
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