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Romania’s online gambling landscape is witnessing significant shifts. In a surprising move, the Romanian government has greenlighted a substantial hike in annual gambling licensing fees across all categories.

This bold decision was part of an emergency ordinance unveiled on Thursday, introducing comprehensive reforms in Romania’s gambling regulations. These pivotal changes encompass steeper licensing fees, revamped advertising guidelines, a stringent prohibition on alcohol within gaming venues, and a mandatory clause for gambling enterprises to establish a fiscal headquarters within Romanian borders.

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New Gaming Oversight Body Formed Next to ONJN

Alongside the ONJN, a fresh organization has been established, vested with several responsibilities. Key among these are the prevention of gambling addiction and the deployment of activities and programs safeguarding minors and other susceptible groups—both socio-economically and otherwise—against the risks of gambling. The organization’s mandate also extends to the promotion of responsible gambling, treatment of gambling addiction, and responsible gambling advertising.

This body will develop a robust IT infrastructure, encompassing both hardware and software elements. A central feature of this system will be a national database designed to combat gambling addiction. This database will hold records of self-excluded and blacklisted individuals. Additionally, a dedicated communication line, “Telverde” will be established.

Revenue Structure

The organization’s revenue is primarily sourced from the annual contributions of licensed gambling operators. The breakdown is as follows:

Remote gambling operators, Class I: €500,000 annually.
Directly involved entities in both traditional and remote gambling, Class II: €15,000 annually.
State monopoly remote games, Class III: €100,000 annually.
Traditional gambling operators:
Lotto games: €200,000 annually.
Video lottery games: €100 per device annually.
Pari-mutuel betting: €50,000 annually.
Fixed-odds betting: €200,000 annually.
Return betting: €100,000 annually.
Casino-specific games: €4,000 annually per game table.
Poker club games: €5,000 annually per club.
Slot-machine games: A tiered approach is employed:
€300 annually per authorized slot in 2024.
€500 annually per authorized slot from 2025 onward.
Bingo games in gaming halls: €5,000 annually.
Television network bingo games: €500,000 annually.

In a move that underscores the government’s commitment to responsible gambling, 70% of these increased contributions will bolster the state treasury. The remaining 30% will be channeled towards initiatives promoting responsible gambling.

Annual Licensing Fees for Games of Chance

Explore the latest fee structure for gambling licenses, showcasing significant increases across multiple categories when compared to previous rates. Dive in to see how the changes might impact on your operations.

Lotto Games: €200,000
Mutual Bets: €65,000
Fixed Odds Bets: €200,000
Counter Bets: €150,000
Casino Games: €150,000
Poker Club Games: €25,000
Slot-Machine Games: €150,000
Bingo Games (Gaming Rooms): €15,000
Bingo Games (TV Networks): €150,000
Remote Gambling Licenses Categories:
Class 1 License: Aimed at remote gambling operators engaging directly with players: €300,000/year.
Class 2 License: For entities in traditional and remote gambling, as well as conformity assessment bodies. Fees are €20,000/year for the following:
Operators offering platform management and hosting
Payment processors
Software producers/distributors for gambling
Affiliates
Certifiers
Auditors
Conformity assessment entities
Class 3 License: For lottery game operators: €200,000.
Poker Festival: €20,000
Temporary Casino Games (3-month validity): €27,500
Raffle Games (Traditional): €20,000
Video Lottery Games (Traditional): €100,000
Yearly Authorization Fees for Gambling Activities:

Unravel the new yearly fee framework for gambling operations, reflecting notable changes in rates across multiple game categories. Discover what’s in store for both traditional and remote gambling platforms.

Traditional Lotto Games: €300,000.
Mutual Bets (Traditional): 21% of the game revenues as per art. 11 of the emergency ordinance, with a minimum fee of €120,000.
Fixed Odds Bets (Traditional): 21% of game revenues, with a baseline of €200,000.
Counter Bets (Traditional): 21% of game revenues, with a minimum fee of €200,000.
Casino Games:
In Bucharest: €70,000 per table.
Outside Bucharest: €40,000 per table.
Poker Club:
In Bucharest: €82,500 per location.
Outside Bucharest: €38,500 per location.
Slot Machine Games:
Class A Slot Machine: €5,300.
Bingo (Gaming Rooms): €7,500 per hall. Plus, 5% of the value of cards bought from the “National Printing Company”.
Bingo (TV Networks): 23% of game revenues, with a minimum of €150,000.
Remote Gambling (Class 1 & 3): 21% of game revenues, starting at €400,000.
Poker Festival: €35,000.
Temporary Casino Games: €22,000 per table (3-month validity).
Raffle Games: €85,000 per venue. Additionally, 5% of the ticket value purchased from the “National Printing Company”.
A Safety Net for Licensing

To ensure financial security, operators are obligated to maintain minimum capital reserves, especially if they default on licensing fees. Depending on an enterprise’s revenue, these mandatory reserves could touch €1,000,000 by 2025.

Guarantee Levels to Cover Risk of Non-payment:

Traditional Gambling Activity (excluding casinos):

For 2024: The guarantee is based on the organizer’s income level:
Up to €5,000,000/year: €500,000 guarantee
€5,000,001 to €20,000,000/year: €800,000 guarantee
Above €20,000,001: €1,000,000 guarantee
From January 1, 2025: A flat guarantee of €1,000,000, irrespective of the organizer’s income.

Casino Gaming (Traditional):

Guarantee: €3,000,000

Online Gambling Activity (excluding online casinos):

For 2024: The guarantee is based on the organizer’s income level:
Up to €5,000,000/year: €500,000 guarantee
€5,000,001 to €20,000,000/year: €1,000,000 guarantee
Above €20,000,001: €2,000,000 guarantee
From January 1, 2025: A flat guarantee of €2,000,000, irrespective of the organizer’s income.

Online Casino Activity:

For 2024: The guarantee is based on the organizer’s income level:
Up to €5,000,000/year: €1,000,000 guarantee
€5,000,001 to €20,000,000/year: €2,000,000 guarantee
Above €20,000,001: €5,000,000 guarantee
From January 1, 2025: A flat guarantee of €5,000,000, irrespective of the organizer’s income.
Redefining Gambling Ads in Romania

Promotional campaigns by operators are undergoing a transformation as well. Operators must prominently display their ONJN license in all promotional materials and refrain from dispatching unsolicited electronic messages. Furthermore, advertising on billboards exceeding 35 square meters is strictly off-limits.

While the ordinance’s approval was widely anticipated, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu’s remarks on Tuesday grabbed attention. He candidly addressed the criticisms, asserting that he wouldn’t bow down to threats from the gaming sector, a subtle dig at past politicians who allegedly yielded to industry pressures.

Conclusion

The recent uptick in license fees, guarantees, and social fees underscores a commitment to bolstering player safety and ensuring a more regulated and responsible gaming environment in Romania. These changes not only reflect a proactive approach to address potential gambling-related issues but also ensure that only the most dedicated and genuine operators thrive in the market. By setting a higher financial threshold, the landscape is primed to favor those operators who are serious about adhering to standards and delivering a secure gaming experience. In the end, these measures are a testament to Romania’s dedication to protecting its citizens while also allowing committed operators to continue serving their clientele responsibly.

igaming.express

Victoria’s minister for casino, gaming and liquor regulation, Melissa Horne, put forward the Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 to the state’s parliament.

If the package of reforms is successful, a curfew will be enforced at most Victorian electronic gaming machine venues from mid-2024.

This would bar hotel and bar patrons from accessing pokie areas between 4am and 10am. The law would only permit casinos to allow punters to play between these times.

The Victoria government said it introduced this measure of the gambling bill to prevent the common practice of staggered opening hours. It argued some venues do this to encourage customers to move between venues in an area in order to continue gambling.

Other reforms comprise the introduction of mandatory pre-commitment limits and carded play for all pokie machines. The government will cap load-up limits at AU$100 and slow spin speeds to reduce the pace of games.

The government said it intends to consult with industry for these measures as part of an implementation working group.

Reforms follow Crown scandal

The government first announced its intention to implement the reforms in July. This came in the wake of a high-profile scandal and inquiry at Australian casino giant Crown Resorts’ Melbourne property.

The Royal Commission inquiry, which was led by Ray Finkelstein AO QC, made 33 recommendations to the government, which were then passed. This followed the report finding the operator “unsuitable” to hold a casino licence in the state of Victoria.

“Our previous reforms have delivered stronger oversight of the gambling industry in Victoria with a regulator unafraid to hold venues to account – now we’re doing more important work to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm,” said Horne.

“We’ve seen predatory behaviour from some venues, allowing people to keep gambling for hours, at any hour. Closing gaming areas between 4am and 10am will give people an important break to reassess and walk away.”

Victoria gambling bill expands government powers

Also on the slate would be a more general expansion of the gambling minister’s powers. The minister would have more scope to prohibit betting on activities considered harmful by the government, such as sports played by minors.

The bill also includes measures designed to enable the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission to better deal with casinos that lose their licence.

igaming business

In a public notice, the LSLGA names a host of operators that do not hold the relevant licence or approval in Nigeria. The LSLGA says operating without a licence breaches Section 33(3) of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Law 2021.

As such, the LSLGA deems each of the named operators as illegal and not approved to offer gambling in Nigeria. It is also urging players to cease gambling with any of the operators.

“The LSLGA wishes to reaffirm its commitment to regulating and promoting the Lagos gaming industry to ensure the interests of all stakeholders are adequately protected,” the LSLGA said.

Nigeria open to offshore operators

The Nigerian market is by no means closed to operators but requires any business to hold a licence to offer gambling.

In October last year, it was revealed Nigeria was to introduce a new remote operator permit for offshore-licensed operators. This allows businesses to offer online gambling in Nigeria without a local presence.

Businesses are eligible for a remote operator permit if they already hold a licence in another jurisdiction. The permit covers casino games, bingo, slots, sports betting and poker.

Each permit is valid for five years. Operators must pay an initial $100,000 for the permit, plus fees of $50,000 in each of the next four years.

Holders will also be allowed to advertise in the country across print media or via affiliate programmes.

igaming Business

The passage of the bill marks one of the final hurdles in the long journey to regulate online gambling in Brazil, the 10th largest economy in the world.

Bill 3626/23 – which will replace the Provisional Measure (PM) president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued in July – was amended several times from the original bill that the rapporteur, deputy Adolfo Viana, presented yesterday.

However, the bill still legalises online casino in addition to sports betting. Betting on fantasy sports will remain illegal due to a specific exemption from the new rules.

DEPUTY ADOLFO VIANA PRESENTS AMENDED BILL
The bill will now head to the Federal Senate, which has 45 days to comment on the bill.

Foreign operators barred from licensing
Unlike the PM, the proposed law excludes foreign companies from offering regulated gambling. Only businesses incorporated under Brazilian legislation, with headquarters and administration in the country will be able to operate.

It is unclear how much of a barrier this will be to foreign operators in practice. It may be the case that operators will need to enter the country through a local hero in order to comply with the requirements.

Operators will also need to have a minimum value of share capital, be a member of a sports integrity body and pass a host of other technical requirements.

Businesses to pay 18% revenue tax
The 18% tax on revenue remains in place. Commentators have highlighted this rises to 31-34% once additional contributions are accounted for.

However, the percentages of the gaming revenue that are allocated the various causes has been amended from what Viana proposed yesterday.

Now 2%, as opposed to 10% of the revenue will go to social security. Meanwhile 1.82% is earmarked for the Ministry of Education, 6.63% for sport and 5.0% for tourism.

The $R30m (£4.89m/€5.69m/$6.10m) licence fee also stays the same. Each payment grants an operator the right to offer gaming through one betting app, with an additional offering needing another licence. The bill also reduces the licence term from five years to three.

The bill also requires operators to put in place anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policies, procedures and internal controls. Companies must also adhere to safer gambling obligations.

Ban on bonus bets
The proposed law also bars operators from offering bonus bets to customers, even if done as part of a promotion. The bill also prevents businesses from offering any credit lines to bettors.

Under the new rules, companies without a licence are prevented from advertising. The ads that are released must also follow new guidelines. If an ad is in breach of these guidelines, companies, internet service providers and websites must remove it after an order from the Ministry of Finance.

The bill also prevents operator’s senior leadership from placing bets. Also barred are regulators, those under 18 and those involved in sporting events.

New payment rules to counter grey market
The bill also includes new payment rules designed to prevent offshore gambling. Only institutions authorised by the Central Bank will be permitted to offering payment services.

A player will only be able to send the money in their betting account to a bank account that has headquarters and administration in Brazil.

Latest step to legal online gambling in Brazil
The passage of the bill marks the latest step in the long journey to regulate gambling in Brazil.

In 2018, the Federal Senate passed Federal Law No. 13,756/18, which sought to regulate fixed-odds sports betting.

Following the passage of the law, the government, through the Secretariat of Evaluation, Planning, Energy and Lottery (SECAP), had four years to develop the regulations.

Brazil
BRAZIL HAS FACED A BUMPY ROAD TO REGULATION SINCE 2018
However, just short of the finishing line, the outgoing president Jair Messias Bolsonaro failed to sign-off on the new rules, throwing years of work into doubt.

But after Bolsonaro’s loss in the election, the more industry-friendly Lula took office. After being burned in a 2007 gambling scandal Lula had not been as vocal an industry supporter as he was before.

Despite this, many expected the new leader to regulate sports betting in order to help fund social projects.

He did so in July when his government promligated the PM that regulated sports betting nationwide. However, for a PM to remain permeant, it must be approved by the country’s Congress within a 120 day period.

The confirmation of the bill by the Chamber of Deputies is an important milestone in this journey. Only the Federal Senate stands now in between legal online gambling in Brazil.

The Regulating the Game conference is only a month away. This five-day event is dedicated to focusing on the world of gambling law and regulation.

Making its debut in London, this conference has a successful track record, having been established in Sydney as Australia’s gambling law and regulation conference. The UK, like Australia, is facing scrutiny of its gambling policy landscape.

The event will be held from 25 – 29 September.

With uncertainty about potential reforms and concerns about stifling interventions, the event is stepping up to address these matters.

Paul Newson, Regulatory and Gambling Specialist, said: “By bringing together all stakeholders, this conference provides a platform to hear from leading regulatory and industry figures, challenge conventional thinking, and deepen understanding of the sector. “Moreover, it’s a catalyst for constructive dialogue, evidence-based policy development, efficient regulation, and a renewed, innovative and sustainable industry.” He added: “In the midst of regulatory challenges and public policy uncertainties, it’s vital for the industry to maintain an influential voice, participate in policy conversations, contribute to regulatory discussions, build capabilities and encourage a workplace culture of ethical leadership and social responsibility.” A special collaboration with the International Centre for Gaming Regulation at UNLV brings an international perspective to Regulating the Game London. This partnership brings knowledge and experience from Las Vegas, Nevada, adding another international lens to the conference. Earlier, it was reported that a new event called Pitch! @RTG will be introduced at the conference. Its goal is to platform products and methodologies that can enhance capability, enhance results, and bring efficiency by addressing regulatory friction and challenges, inspiring compliance, provoking innovation and promoting ethical leadership.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India has released an advisory paper, requesting that all advertisements for gambling products cease immediately across all platforms.

Five main avenues have been listed in the advisory paper, those being newspapers, television channels, online news outlets, online advertisement companies and social media platforms.

Attached to this latest advisory were three previous statements, all released by the Ministry within the last 14 months.

Kshitij Aggarwal, Ministry Deputy Director of Digital Media, explained in the statement: “The above-mentioned Advisories clearly mention that betting and gambling is an illegal activity and hence advertisements/promotion of such activities directly or indirectly on any of the media platforms fall foul of various statues, including under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Press Council Act 1978, etc.”

It may be noted that recently, the Central Government has taken action against a network of agents who had collected substantial money from users of gambling apps and subsequently funneled the funds out of India.

In this regard, it may be noted that advertisements of gambling or betting platforms not only pose significant financial and socio-economic risk for the consumers, especially youth and children, but also have links to money laundering networks, thereby threatening the financial security of the country.”

The advisory continued to explain that there had been a noticeable increase in advertising around major sporting events, such as cricket tournaments.

With a number of major international cricket tournaments approaching, the Ministry has released this advisory letter as a reminder to organisations, emphasising that ‘the Government would be constrained to take appropriate action under the various statues’ if any further advertisements are shown.

This announcement comes only a week after the Maharashtra Government, one of the largest states in India, repealed its 1976 Casinos Control and Tax Act and effectively banned casinos in the region.

As each country has opened up to legalising gambling and the millions that it brings in terms of tax revenue, operators, affiliates and suppliers from around the world have clamoured to get a piece of the market.

Currently, the continent is made up of a complete mixture of regulations, some parts are wholly restrictive, others are permissive to a near-oblivious level and the rest are working to regulate as fast as possible – if they haven’t already.

Here, Gambling Insider explores the regulations found in each country and what is and isn’t currently legal.

Argentina

Gambling Legal: Yes

Argentina, much like the US, regulates all of its gambling on a state-by-state basis – leaving it to the individual jurisdictions to decide what kind of rules to set when it comes to gambling restrictions.

Brazil

Gambling Legal: Yes

While gambling is legal in Brazil, the market is near-universally unregulated. However, attempts to regulate gambling are now being pushed forward and are expected to pass in the near future.

Bolivia

Gambling Legal: Yes

Although online gambling is technically illegal, the state doesn’t prosecute those that do it – while land-based betting is entirely legal.

Chile

Gambling Legal: Yes/No

While gambling in Chile is legal, online casinos remain illegal – though players are not prosecuted for doing so – but, there are several rule changes that could be coming soon that will legalise all forms of gambling in the country and regulate it simultaneously.

Colombia

Gambling Legal: Yes

Colombia has legal betting, so long as the companies that enter Colombia’s betting market have a local licence.

Costa Rica

Gambling Legal: Undefined

The Costa Rican Government have an ‘unspoken approval’ of gambling in the country, though the practice is not strictly approved – since it is included under the country’s gaming law.

Ecuador

Gambling Legal: No

Ecuador completely closed off all gambling in 2011, and the industry has remained banned ever since the Executive Decree was ordered. However, foreign websites are allowed.

Guyana

Gambling Legal: Yes

While gambling is legal in Guyana, much of the country’s online gambling remains unregulated.

Mexico

Gambling Legal: Yes

Nicaragua

Gambling Legal: Yes

Panama

Gambling Legal: Yes

Paraguay

Gambling Legal: Yes

Peru

Gambling Legal: Yes

Uruguay

Gambling Legal: Yes

Venezuela

Gambling Legal: Yes – the two casinos accept cryptocurrency as payment.

Right now, the only legal gambling found in Venezuela is in casinos that also accept cryptocurrency.

Country Retail Sports Betting Online Sports Betting Regulated Sports Betting Casino Regulated Online Casino Regulated Land-Based Casino Lottery
Argentina
Brazil
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Guyana
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela

FAQ’S

How can you tell licensed operators from unlicensed ones?

The answer here is you have to do research into the operator. Of course, it is an added chore to do when a player wants to get down and play, but being in the regulated market is always safer than not. Many countries in LatAm won’t prosecute players for gambling with black market operators, meaning that those operators exist freely – and usually without adequate player protection in place. Therefore, the word here is ‘caution.’

Is regulated sports betting coming in Brazil?

Well, the answer to that is, yes. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed the bill that has regulated the practice as of 12 May 2023. As of now, Brazil is in the process of adopting it into daily life, ending a significant wait for many operators, suppliers and players in the famously football-obsessed country.

Revenue in the state was 0.8% lower than $1.30bn in May 2022 but ahead of the $1.16bn generated in April this year.

Slots remained by far the primary source of revenue for operators, drawing $877.9m worth of revenue, up 0.9% year-on-year. Multi-denomination slots accounted for $501.3m of this total, with penny slots generating $285.9m.

Revenue from table, counter and card games slipped 4.4% to $411.2m, with declines across almost all gambling types.

The government said the aim of reform is to prevent the financial and social harm of gambling. A licensing model would improve the country’s channelisation rate to legal offerings.

The new licensing system would include both online casino games and sports betting. The government would divide state-owned gaming monopoly Veikkaus into a number of separate companies within the same group as part of the process.

Doing so would effectively reverse the 2017 merger of betting brand Veikkaus, slot business Raha-automaattiyhdistys and horse race betting operator Fintoto.

The government said that current gambling policy “has not been successful”. It cited the continued issue of problem gambling amid a close to 50% channelisation rate to the white market.

Finland to end gambling monoply
Arguing that the regulation would be “enhanced” under a licence model, the government outlined what this would entail. It said that it would empower the regulator with sufficient resources. It also emphasised that it intends to introduce measures to combat money laundering and sports integrity violations.

Finland gambling monopoly
FINLAND HAS A CHANNELISATION RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 50%
Finland will also establish a single self-exclusion platform for all different gambling portals.

In addition, the government will require marketing to be “moderate and responsible in its content scope, visibility and frequency.”

“The introduction of the licence model must be based on a careful investigation of the social effects of the reform and especially its effects on the prevalence of gambling problems,” said the government.

Industry reaction
Since the establishment of the Finnish online gambling trade association Rahapeliala in December last year, it has called for the introduction of a licensing model.

“We are pleased to see how the government has recognised the need to renew our gambling system to the realities of today’s technology,” said the association’s chief executive Mika Kuismanen.

“This reform strengthens fair competition and protects the interests of society and players. The reform of the gambling system is a great example of how structural changes can be implemented in an economically and socially responsible manner, when there is enough courage.”

New policy programme
The unveiling of the new government’s policy programme is the result of months of negotiations following the country’s April elections.

National Coalition Party leader Petteri Orpo will lead a right-leaning government. The governing coalition consists of the Swedish People’s Party, the Christian Democrats and the anti-immigration Finns Party.

The announcement comes following an April government study – which compared the monopoly system to peer countries abroad – recommended that the country should take steps to reform its monopoly system. The study was launched as both the government and opposition saw reasons to end the monopoly.

Peru’s Congress has approved a series of amendments to close loopholes.

Peru.- The National Congress of Peru has approved amendments to its Gambling Law 2022 to close a series of loopholes. The amendments received 105 votes in favour and none against.

Peru’s Gambling Law still requires the signature of president Dina Boluarte. The latest amendments include a revision to article 40 to eliminate a loophole that could have allowed international companies to avoid paying the headline tax. Now both local and foreign gambling companies will be subject to the 11.76 per cent tax rate on revenue.

Meanwhile, the minimum financial guarantee required from operators has been increased from 200 Peruvian tax units (approximately $270,000) to 600 (+$500,000) or 3 per cent of annual gross revenue. Rules on player registration have been relaxed to allow non-Peruvians to register to gamble, and operators will now be able to use a variety of internet domains, not only bet.pe as proposed in the previous version of the bill.

Finally, the law makes a modification to the Peruvian Penal Code to make it a criminal offence for an operator to offer gambling without a licence. It imposes a penalty of one to four years in prison for those found guilty.

The changes were proposed by former Congress leader Lady Mercedes Camones (APP). She said the aim was to ensure legal equality for all operators and to “ensure tax collection, prevent money laundering, verify that customers participate safely in this activity and collect the corresponding tax”.

National Vice Minister of Tourism, Madeleine Burns, has estimated that regulated gambling in Peru could generate around $160m a year for tourism, sports and health in the country. One concern that may remain for operators in the current grey market is the short timeframe given for implementation. The law grants a period of just 120 days for operators to transition to the regulated market.