Romania’s slot-machine sector shrinks sharply after new local rules

10 August 2026 Romania’s authorised slot-machine sector has contracted sharply following new regulations that transferred greater powers over gambling authorisation to local authorities, with only 2,337 slot-machine stations authorised between February and May 2026, compared with 18,981 in the same period of 2025, according to data cited by Profit.ro. This seems, however, to be the indirect effect of the public debate rather than direct constraints of city halls that gained greater power: only a few of them have imposed restrictions so far. The decline follows the entry into force of Emergency Ordinance 7/2026, which gives city halls greater authority to allow or prohibit gambling activities in their jurisdictions. The changes have also reduced the number of gaming devices currently operat