Bulgaria and Romania are enacting stricter regulations on gambling, including advertising bans and casino restrictions.
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Bulgaria and Romania are implementing significant measures against gambling and the betting industry, coinciding with upcoming elections in Bulgaria on June 9th and Romanian elections on December 8th. Bulgaria has banned all media advertising for gambling and plans to restrict casinos and slot machines in municipalities under ten thousand residents within three years. Romania enacted similar restrictions earlier, banning slot machines in towns smaller than fifteen thousand people, and is tightening penalties for violations while considering further advertising regulations. Both countries cite the known harmful effects of slot culture and unregulated betting as reasons for these changes, though observers suggest political motivations are also at play, with some viewing the measures as pre-election campaigning. Bulgaria’s new rules limit gambling ads to the state sports lottery and ban roadside billboards near schools and casinos in smaller towns. In Romania, while initial plans were broader, current legislative proposals aim to extend advertising bans to specific times and live sports broadcasts, and prevent public figures from appearing in such ads. Discussions in both countries also highlight concerns over the influence of gambling companies on media, with reports detailing instances where industry ties have affected editorial content.
