Age Limit Increase and Advertising Restrictions
Under the proposals, individuals under the age of 21 would be prohibited from participating in all gambling activities in Romania. The legislation also seeks to ban online gambling advertising between 06:00 and 24:00, targeting the hours when young people are most active on digital platforms.
The bills would prohibit the use of influencers, athletes, and public figures in gambling promotional campaigns. This restriction reflects changing media consumption patterns among younger audiences, who are increasingly influenced by online personalities rather than traditional advertising.
Legislative Justification and International Precedents
PNL deputy Raluca Turcan described the age increase as a "simple change with deep effects," citing examples from Portugal, Greece, and the Republic of Moldova, where similar measures have been implemented.
“The gambling industry, based on persuasive mechanisms and refined psychological techniques, targets exactly this vulnerable segment,” Turcan stated. “By raising the age threshold, we protect young people during a vulnerable stage.”
Turcan emphasized that individuals aged 18 to 21 often face increased financial pressure and impulsivity as they enter adulthood, making them particularly susceptible to gambling marketing. She referenced international examples where similar policies reportedly reduced early-age indebtedness and problem gambling cases.
USR deputy Diana Stoica stressed the urgency of the legislation, stating, "We have an obligation to protect our children from the threat of gambling," while citing studies showing early exposure to slot machines and online betting among Romanian minors.
Additional Player Protection Measures
The proposed legislation includes mandatory visible harm-prevention warnings across digital and physical gambling environments, modeled after tobacco and alcohol regulations. These measures would amend Romania’s existing legal framework under Emergency Ordinance 77/2009.
Legislative Process
The bills will now proceed through the legislative process, including debate and committee review in the Romanian Parliament. If adopted, the measures would represent a major tightening of Romania’s gambling regulations, aligning the country with several European states that have recently strengthened restrictions to reduce gambling exposure among young people.
The current minimum legal gambling age in Romania is 18 for all forms of gambling, including casinos, sports betting, lotteries, and online gambling. The proposed increase to 21 would place Romania among a growing number of European countries implementing higher age thresholds for gambling participation.
Source: Romanian Parliament
