Iasi County Shuts Down All Slot Machine Venues in Romania

All 98 local councils in Romania's Iasi county have voted to close every venue hosting slot machines, using new licensing powers that shifted authority away from national gambling regulator ONJN in February 2026. The closures make Iasi the first Romanian county to eliminate land based slot gaming entirely, with final licenses set to expire in February 2027, and campaigners expect other counties to follow.

What is happening with slot machines in Iasi county?

Every one of Iasi county's 98 local councils has now decided to close land based venues that host slot machines, according to organizers of the anti gambling campaign that pushed for the change, as reported by SBC News. Iasi, Romania's second most populous county, becomes the first in the country to enact a complete, county wide ban on slot halls.

Why are Iasi's local councils closing gambling venues?

The closures follow a grassroots campaign led by activist Paul Ciobanu, who organized more than 170 local initiatives under the banner "Iasi, say no to the scoundrels." Ciobanu said the campaign mobilized more than 7,000 supporters across the county. "We can be happy that we are the first county to get rid of this phenomenon. We started with 'Iasi, say no to the scoundrels', and then another 170 local campaigns appeared," Ciobanu said.

When will the Iasi slot machine closures take effect?

Councils are moving to close venues either immediately or as existing licenses lapse, with the final slot machine licenses in the county due to expire in February 2027. That gives operators in Iasi a defined but short runway to wind down land based slot operations in the county.

How did Romania shift gambling licensing power to local councils?

The closures are only possible because of a change in national policy. Romania's central government transferred licensing authority for gambling halls from ONJN, the national gambling regulator, to local councils in February 2026, with the new rules taking effect on February 24, 2026, according to iGaming Business. The reform followed earlier restrictions introduced in 2024, when Romania banned slot halls in towns with fewer than 15,000 residents and introduced new zoning and advertising rules.

How many other Romanian localities could ban gambling?

Iasi is not expected to be an isolated case. Industry analysis reported by iGaming Business suggests as many as 200 Romanian localities could move to prohibit gambling now that the decision sits with local councils rather than a single national regulator, and one major land based operator has already closed 60 locations nationwide with plans for around 100 more closures.

How has Romania's gambling market changed since 2024?

The number of slot machines operating in Romania has fallen sharply, from around 80,000 two years ago to about 36,000 currently, with industry estimates pointing to a further drop to between 15,000 and 20,000 machines by the end of 2026, according to iGaming Business. Land based gambling was still worth an estimated 1.67 billion euros in 2025, about a third of Romania's total gambling market, but online gambling's share of the market has grown from 52 percent in 2023 to 71 percent in 2026 as land based venues shut down or fail to renew licenses.

What tax changes have also hit Romania's gambling operators?

Licensing is not the only pressure on the sector. Romania raised gambling taxes in 2025, setting a 27 percent levy on online gambling revenue and a 23 percent levy on retail gambling revenue, alongside a new annual fee of 1,000 euros per slot machine, according to iGaming Business reporting on the sector's 2026 overhaul. Combined with the local licensing shift, operators describe the current environment as the most difficult Romania's regulated gambling industry has faced.

What do gambling industry groups say about the new local rules?

Industry associations have warned that shifting licensing power to individual councils creates unpredictable, patchwork regulation. Andrei Frimescu of Romslot, a trade body representing slot operators, described the situation as "effectively become a Catch-22" in which "the industry is blocked." Dan Ghita of Rombet, another operator association, said "this model risks creating inconsistent regulatory environments across the country," pointing to the risk that identical businesses could be allowed in one town and banned in the next.

Are local officials in favor of the closures?

Some are openly supportive. Mario De Mezzo, mayor of Slatina, said of gambling venues in his own city that "the simplest solution is to eliminate these businesses entirely from the city," a view that mirrors the reasoning driving Iasi's county wide vote. The 60 day window Romania's central government gave local councils to submit closure proposals passed in late April 2026 with only a limited number of formal announcements, suggesting many councils are still working through the process that Iasi has now completed.

How does Iasi compare with the rest of Romania on gambling policy?

Metric	Before 2026 reform	Current position (2026)
Licensing authority	National regulator (ONJN)	Local councils, since February 24, 2026
Slot machines nationwide	About 80,000 (two years ago)	About 36,000, projected 15,000 to 20,000 by year end
Online market share	52 percent (2023)	71 percent (2026)
Iasi county slot halls	Operating under standard licenses	Closure voted by all 98 local councils

What does this mean for licensed operators in Romania?

Operators holding licenses in Iasi face a hard deadline to exit the county by February 2027, and the broader pattern, including one operator's closure of 60 venues nationwide with about 100 more planned, points to accelerating consolidation in Romania's land based segment. Companies are increasingly redirecting investment toward online products, where growth has been strongest, rather than renewing retail licenses in an environment where a single county or town can end operations with little notice.

Could other Romanian counties follow Iasi's lead?

Campaigners behind the Iasi closures are explicit that they expect their approach to spread, and the scale of local anti gambling organizing, more than 170 initiatives feeding into a single county wide result, gives other activists a template to replicate. With roughly 200 localities reportedly considering similar bans, Iasi's vote is likely to be treated as a test case rather than an isolated local decision.

What happens next for Romania's land based gambling sector?

The next milestones are the February 2027 expiry of Iasi's remaining licenses and whether other counties formalize their own closure votes following the pattern set here. iGaming Daily News will continue to track Romania's local licensing shift and its impact on operators as more councils reach decisions.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Iasi county closing all its slot machine venues?

All 98 local councils in Iasi voted to close land based slot venues after a grassroots campaign led by activist Paul Ciobanu, using new powers that let local councils, rather than national regulator ONJN, decide on gambling licensing.

Is gambling illegal in Romania now?

No. Gambling remains legal and regulated nationally by ONJN, but individual counties and towns can now use local licensing powers, granted in February 2026, to close or restrict land based venues in their own areas.

When do Iasi's gambling licenses expire?

The final slot machine licenses in Iasi county are due to expire in February 2027, giving operators a defined deadline to wind down.

Will other Romanian counties ban slot machines too?

Analysts and campaigners expect more localities to follow. Reports suggest as many as 200 Romanian localities could consider similar bans now that licensing sits with local councils.

What is ONJN and what changed for it in 2026?

ONJN is Romania's national gambling regulator. In February 2026 the central government transferred licensing authority for gambling halls from ONJN to local councils, enabling votes like Iasi's.

How many slot machines are left in Romania?

Romania had about 36,000 slot machines as of 2026, down from roughly 80,000 two years earlier, with projections of a further fall to 15,000 to 20,000 by the end of the year.

Updated July 2026.