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Romania’s slot machine sector has contracted sharply, with 2,337 stations authorized between February and May 2026, down from 18,981 in the same period in 2025.
The change follows the entry into force of Emergency Ordinance 7/2026, which gives city halls greater authority to allow or prohibit gambling activities within their jurisdictions, Profit.ro reported. The changes have also contributed to a reduction in the number of operating gaming machines and related tax revenues.
Romania had 45,659 gaming devices authorised in 2025, but only 29,014 remain operational. This represents approximately 64% of the previous year’s authorised total.
The reduction has occurred despite limited implementation of the new local rules. Only 90 of roughly 3,100 administrative-territorial units have adopted local council decisions on gambling. The 60-day deadline for issuing the decisions expired more than two months ago.
Of those 90 decisions, 35 prohibit gambling activities, while 55 allow them to continue.
The reduction in authorised gambling activity has also affected government revenues. Operators paid RON 485 million ($106.8 million) in gambling authorisation fees from February to May 2025, compared with RON 300 million over the same period in 2026.
As a result, the number of authorised machines has fallen before most local authorities have formally determined whether gambling businesses can continue operating in their areas.
The government introduced the changes as part of broader efforts to regulate the gambling sector and give local authorities greater control over where gambling businesses can operate.