Romania will consider significant changes to its current gambling tax framework as proposed by the formation of a new coalition government.
The call for reforms follows the appointment of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and the swearing-in of the new Bolojan Cabinet on 23 June 2025, led by newly elected President Nicușor Dan.
The coalition is formed as a “Pro-European Alliance” made of the parties of the PNL (National Liberal Party – Bolojan’s party), PSD (Social Democratic Party) and USR (Save Romania Union) with support from minority groups.
The tri-party coalition has moved quickly to launch a fiscal consolidation plan aimed at boosting public revenues and complying with EU-mandated reforms. The overhaul of gambling taxation falls under the stewardship of Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare, who returned to the post as part of the new cabinet.
At a government briefing, Nazare stressed the urgency of gambling reforms, as measures are designed to curb the black market and “restore fairness and transparency” to a sector that has operated in a “regulatory grey zone for too long.”
“We are increasing the authorisation fees and all other related taxes on gambling in a very significant amount. Upon authorisation, they increase by almost 30%… We want to give a very important signal regarding the taxation of gambling, which we know very well how harmful it is.”
Player tax scale replaces flat model
The most significant shift concerns player winnings, which will no longer be taxed at a flat 3% rate. Instead, Romania will adopt a progressive taxation model based on income brackets:
- Up to 10,000 lei (+€2,000): taxed at 10%
- 10,001–66,750 lei ( up to €13,500): taxed at 1,000 lei + 20% of the amount exceeding 10,000 lei
- Above 66,750 lei (+€13,500): taxed at 12,350 lei + 40% on the excess
Previously, the top effective tax for winnings over 66,750 lei was capped at 11,650 lei plus 40% — a structure now replaced by higher thresholds to capture more revenue. For high-stakes casino, slot, poker and lottery play, the government has also introduced a deductible threshold to prevent tax compounding.
Officials from the Ministry of Finance and Romania’s gambling regulator, ONJN, argued the revisions were necessary to curb unlicensed play, which has surged following the 2024 ban on gambling venues in towns with under 15,000 inhabitants.
“Players who have winnings up to 10,000 lei will now have 10% withheld instead of 3%,” Nazare stated: “We want to send a very important signal regarding the taxation of gambling, which we know very well how harmful it is to vulnerable communities when left unchecked.”
Licence fees and authorisation costs climb
Gambling operators will also face elevated licensing and operational fees:
- Online games authorisation: increased from 21% to 27%
- Retail betting authorisation: increased from 21% to 23%
- Slot machine fees: raised from €5,300 to €5,800 per machine
- Vice tax on slots: doubled from €500 to €1,000
- Lottery proceeds: now subject to a 6.5% tax
Though the government insists the burden has been balanced between operators and consumers, critics warn that over-taxation of player winnings could accelerate black market migration, especially on digital platforms without ONJN licences.
“Players will always follow net returns,” one market analyst said. “If licensed sites become less competitive, the state loses control.”
€1bn fiscal target from gambling
The revised gambling framework is expected to contribute over €1bn annually to Romania’s state budget, forming a key component of the country’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) milestones.
The reform package was published in the Draft Law on Fiscal-Budgetary Measures, now under public consultation via the Ministry of Finance. Alongside gambling, it introduces major tax increases on VAT, health contributions, and excise duties, while phasing out long-standing exemptions across sectors.
The Finance Ministry said the overhaul aims to meet EU deficit rules and unlock additional funding under the PNRR’s Component 8 on Fiscal and Pension System Reforms, which stipulates full implementation by mid‑2026.
USR demands changes…
While supporting fiscal reform, coalition member USR has insisted that the Romanian gambling sector is in urgent need of a comprehensive regulatory overhaul, following high-profile scandals tied to the governance of ONJN, the national gambling regulator.
Romania’s National Auditing Authority recently uncovered gross supervisory failures, including ONJN’s failure to collect €900m in unpaid authorisation fees between 2019 and 2023.
USR, which campaigned on a mandate of regulatory reform, is now spearheading efforts to replace ONJN altogether. The party is advocating for the creation of an entirely new regulatory body with stronger transparency, compliance, and enforcement powers.
As an interim measure, the USR is pushing to implement a monthly gambling spend cap of 10% of individual income, to be monitored by Romania’s Tax Authority (ANAF), with the goal of protecting vulnerable consumers.
“USR’s position is clear—without robust oversight and player protection, we risk losing control of this sector again,” said a party representative. Prior to the coalition’s formation, USR also secured an agreement to modernise the national self-exclusion system with tougher entry protocols, broader operator responsibilities, and real-time monitoring tools.
Draft Bill to be quickly cemented
The gambling tax reforms are part of the Draft Law on Fiscal-Budgetary Measures which remains in draft form.
Anastasiya Yautodzyeva: 4H Agency
“The proposed bill has not yet entered into force,” said Stasya Yautodzyeva, policy analyst at 4H Agency. “Comments and industry feedback can still be submitted until 13 July, with final reviews expected by 3 August 2025.”
Whilst modest amendments remain possible, Yautodzyeva warned that core tax increases are unlikely to be rolled back. If passed, the legislation will mark Romania’s sixth major overhaul of gambling taxation since 2018, reflecting a pattern of near-annual fiscal tinkering in pursuit of tighter control with no guaranteed results on revenues.
“There is a slim chance that a strong and coordinated industry response may influence certain aspects of the bill, potentially softening some of its harsher measures,” she noted. “However, experience across multiple jurisdictions shows that restrictive fiscal and regulatory changes—especially when not paired with incentives or consumer protections—often push both operators and players towards offshore markets.”
“Sustainable regulation must strike a balance between enforcement and accessibility; otherwise, Romania’s well-intentioned reforms may unintentionally undermine the very goals they seek to achieve.”
